Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a single-gene disease of the cerebral small blood vessels caused by mutations in the NOTCH3 gene on chromosome 19. Although CADASIL was known as a rare disease, recent research has suggested that the NOTCH variants could be found frequently even in the general population. The main clinical features included recurrent stroke, migraine, psychiatric symptoms, and progressive cognitive decline. On brain magnetic resonance imaging, patients with CADASIL showed multifocal white matter hyperintensity lesions, lacunar infarcts, microbleeds, and brain atrophy. Among them, lacunar infarcts and brain atrophy are important in predicting the clinical outcomes of patients with CADASIL. In the Jeju National University Hospital, we have diagnosed 213 CADASIL patients from 2004 to 2020. Most NOTCH3 mutations were located in exon 11 (94.4%), and p.Arg544Cys was the most common mutation. The mean age at diagnosis was 61.0±12.8 years. The most common presenting symptoms were ischemic stroke (24.4%), followed by cognitive impairment(15.0%), headache (8.9%), and dizziness(8.0%). Although the exact prevalence of CADASIL in Jeju is still unknown, the disease prevalence could be as high as 1% of the population considering the prevalence reported in Taiwan. Therefore, it is necessary to discover efficient biomarkers and genetic tests that can accurately screen and diagnose patients suspected of having CADASIL in this region. Ultimately, it is urgent to explore the exact pathogenesis of the disease to identify leading substances of treatment potential, and for this, multi-disciplinary research through active support from the Jeju provincial government as well as the national government is essential.

It is necessary to expand organ donations of the deceased, as more ethical problems are emerging from the increase in organ donations from the living. As the legal and ethical discussions on donation after circulatory death (DCD) as a field with the potential to expand such domestic organ donation are being held, the need for a social consensus is increasingly highlighted. Organ DCD refers to the donation of an organ from a patient whose spontaneous blood circulation has stopped due to cardiac death. In this study, we aimed to examine whether there are legal and ethical obstacles or medical uncertainties for expanding the practice of DCD. By law, death is recognized as cardiac death, and brain death is recognized as an exception for organ transplantation. Although circulatory death precedes brain death, this paper presents a discussion to begin the process of reaching an ethical and legal agreement on whether or not circulatory death can be recognized as death. Successful implementations of DCD, including Category III DCD, in other countries are currently being reviewed to introduce Category III DCD in Korea.

Urinary tract infections are among the most common infectious diseases and are the major causes of mortality and morbidity. These diseases result in many severe hospitalizations each year. Severe sepsis and septic shock are common and life-threatening medical conditions, and large cases are associated with urinary tract infection. The medical term "severe sepsis" is defined as sepsis complicated by hypotension, organ dysfunction, and tissue hypoperfusion, whereas "septic shock" is defined as sepsis complicated either by hypotension that is refractory to fluid resuscitation or by hyperlacteremia. A recent multicenter-study in Korea reported that the rate of in-hospital mortality associated with severe sepsis and septic shock was > 34%. Among the causative diseases, urogenital tract infection showed a high correlation. Moreover, it is very important that clinicians detect severe sepsis and septic shock early and treat them properly. The principles of initial treatment include provision of sufficient hemodynamic resuscitation and early administration of appropriate antibiotic therapy to mitigate uncontrolled infection. Initial resuscitation includes the use of vasopressors and intravenous fluids, and it is a key to achieve the target of initial resuscitation. Supportive care in the intensive care unit, such as glucose control, stress ulcer prophylaxis, blood transfusion, deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, and renal replacement therapy, is also significant. We have summarized the key components in the treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock in patients with urinary tract infection. Urologists should be aware that appropriate early treatment is necessary to prevent fatal outcomes in these patients.

The study aimed to understand medical students' experiences of emotional changes, including their method of adapting to experiences, and the effect of the experiences in shaping their identities. We interviewed 12 medical students who were finishing their 1-year clinical internship in 2016. Data on their opinions and reasons for emotional changes during their school life were obtained. The descriptive phenomenological approach was applied to analyze the interviews. Their stress came from disappointment in themselves, competitive environment, observing a change in their personalities, meeting their parents' expectations, and interpersonal relations. The interviewees adjusted to the medical study by exercising self-control in their studies and daily lives, by practicing self-acceptance and observing their state of mind, and by breaking free from the competition-driven environment and obsession with grades. In addition, they cultivated endurance and found external support. Finally, they achieved self-efficacy and were comfortable in their identity as medical students. They still had to address the stress from working relationships and the difficulty in balancing studies and life. The medical students' self-evaluation and compulsive tendencies increased during the medical course due to the burden of studies. They evolved by learning self-control and introspection and seeking ways to adapt. Understanding this growth process of medical students will improve student support in medical schools.

Ultrasonography is used to examine gross or microscopic hematuria without side effects. It is one of the methods of diagnosing bladder lesions, but in some cases, the lesions are not found. We attempted to identify the problems during the ultrasonic examination by analyzing the symptoms, location of lesion, and medical history of urothelial cancer for cases of undetected bladder lesions. Thirty-three patients who underwent transurethral resection of a bladder tumor from January 1 to May 4, 2018 in one hospital were enrolled in this study. Patients who underwent preoperative ultrasonography and cystoscopy were treated. Ultrasonography did not detect bladder lesions in five patients. The size of the lesion was 0.5~2.5 cm in various locations, such as the side, front, and so on. Ultrasonic examination requires more attention if there is gross hematuria or a history of urothelial cancer, and it is necessary to detect recurrence by conducting cystoscopy at the same time, especially when there are lesions on the anterior wall of the bladder.

Influenza is a common disease that causes epidemics yearly due to the influenza virus. If patients with influenza present with rare symptoms, the diagnosis may be delayed and the condition is difficult to treat. A 5-year-old boy presented to the emergency room with fever and cramps. Brain computed tomography showed low attenuation in the thalamus and brain stem, which was suggestive of encephalopathy caused by influenza virus. Another 5-year-old girl visited the emergency room with mild fever and painful calf edema. She was diagnosed with myositis caused by influenza and treated accordingly.

Bone marrow failure, such as aplastic or myelophthisic anemia, can occur due to an underlying lymphoid malignancy and cause life-threatening events. A 58-year-old man diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma had recently visited the emergency department because of an altered level of consciousness caused by acute severe anemia. The laboratory findings were strongly suggestive of bone marrow failure syndrome. Bone marrow examination was immediately performed and, subsequently, dexamethasone was initiated to control the underlying lymphoma. Intravenous immunoglobulin was also administered in combination due to combined immune hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. Bone marrow examination revealed a packed marrow with marked fibrosis and lymphoma involvement. A diagnosis of secondary myelofibrosis related to the underlying lymphoma was made, and sequential combination chemotherapy was introduced despite the presence of severe anemia and thrombocytopenia. After combination chemotherapy, his hematologic profile and underlying lymphoma improved. Better understanding of various hematologic manifestations and knowledge of the rare condition of lymphoma are essential for appropriate diagnostic approaches and treatment.