• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.250-255
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for detecting the lymph node (LN) metastasis of gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: 119 patients (M : F=89 : 30; mean age: 64) with gastric cancer were referred for preoperative FDG-PET/CT scanning and spiral enhanced abdominal pelvic CT from June 2006 to July 2008, and these were the subjects of our study. All the patients underwent curative radical gastrectomy and lymph node dissection. A final diagnosis was made for all the patients by the histology of the surgical specimens. Results: Both PET/CT and enhanced CT showed similar sensitivity for detecting regional lymph node metastasis (32.6% vs 39.5%, respectively). PET/CT was more accurate than enhanced CT for detecting regional lymph node metastasis (67.2% vs 63.0%, respectively), and PET/CT showed better specificity (86.8% vs 76.3, respectively) and a better positive predictive value (PPV) (58.3% vs 48.6%, respectively). PET/CT showed better specificity (98.0% vs 88.2%, respectively) and accuracy (79.4% vs 73.9%, respectively) than enhanced CT for detecting early gastric cancer. PET/CT showed better specificity (64.0% vs 52.0%, respectively), a better PPV (60.9% vs 57.1%), a better negative predictive value (NPV) (48.5% vs 46.4%, respectively) and better accuracy (53.6% vs 51.8%, respectively) than enhanced CT for detecting advanced gastric cancer. Conclusion: FDG-PET/CT is more usefulness than enhanced CT for making the preoperative diagnosis of regional LN metastases from gastric cancers.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.84-91
• /
• 2007

Purpose: The aim of this study was to report seven cases of metallic radial head prosthesis and present the limit of use in Korea. Materials and Methods: Metallic radial head arthroplasty was performed on 7 patients between April 2006 and December 2006, who had complex elbow injury including comminuted radial head fracture. Indication, operative findings and outcome were assessed. Availability and payment of implant were investigated. Results: All of the patients had more than one associated injury including coronoid fracture, olecranoan fracture, and ligament ruptures. According to Mason classification, there were three type III and four type IV fractures. All radial head fractures were too comminuted to reconstruct. There were two excellent results, four good, and one poor, as graded by Mayo score. There were no patient with instability and implant related complications. Insufficient supply of implant did not enable to do scheduled surgery in 2 cases. Current medical insurance did not cover charge for radial prosthesis, five patients could not help paying for that by themselves. Conclusion: Metallic radial head implants are useful when the radial head cannot be repaired reliably. Preoperative preparing and coverage by medical insurance based on appropriate indication are helpful for decision for a treatment option.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.187-200
• /
• 2007

This study attempted to contribute to the clinical application of implant operation by making a quantitative nerve examination using a neurometer for the evaluation of sensory disturbances that could be incurred after the implantation in the dental clinics, and it intended to establish an objective guideline in the evaluation of sensory nerve after the operation of implant. An inspection was performed with the frequencies of 2000Hz, 250 Hz and 5 Hz before and after the operations of tooth implant using $Neurometer^{(R)}$ CPT/C (Neurotron, Inc. Baltimore, Maryland, USA) for 44 patients who had performed an implant operation among the patients coming to Daejeon Sun Dental Hospital in 2006 and 30 people for control group. The measuring sites were maxillary nerve ending and mandibular nerve ending of trigeminal nerve according to the implant operating regions. The current perception threshold (CPT) by each nerve fiber was specifically responded under the electric stimulation of 2000 Hz in case of $A{\beta}$ fiber and of 250 Hz in case of $A{\delta}$ fiber and of 5Hz in case of C fiber. The CPT test could be performed to assess the damages of peripheral nerve in the trigeminal nerve area and it stimulated selective nerve fibers by generating the electricity of specific frequency in the peripheral nerve area. The nerve fibers with varied thickness were responsive selectively to the electric stimulation with different frequencies; accordingly, they applied the electric stimulation with different frequencies and the reaction threshold of $A{\beta},\;A{\delta}$ and C fibers selectively responsive to each electric current could be individually evaluated. In the assessment through the CPT, the increase and decrease of the CPT could be measured so that sensory disturbances such as hyperaesthesia or hypoaesthesia could be diagnosed. This study could obtain the following results after the assessment of the CPT before and after the implant operation. 1. In the assessment before and after the implant operation, the CPT in the frequencies of 2000 Hz, 250 Hz, 5 Hz for maxillary branch increased on the whole after the operation and the CPT for mandibular branch in the $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) and C-fiber(5 Hz )after the operation increased statistically significantly. 2. For the groups of patients with medically compromised or its subsequent medicinal prescription, there were no significant differences before and after the implant operation and for the control groups, significantly high CPT was shown after the implant operation in the left $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) and C-fiber(5 Hz). 3. In the comparison of the measured value of the CPT before the operation between the control group and the implant operation group, the latter group had a significantly high measured value of the CPT in the right $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) and C-fiber(5 Hz) and there were significant differences in $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) in the CPT assessment after the implant operation for the control group. 4. Male participants had higher CPT than female counterparts; however, there were no statistic significances. In the CPT evaluation before and after implant operation, there were no statistical differences in the male group while the right C-fiber(5 Hz) and left $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000Hz) were significantly high in the female group. 5. In the comparison between the group who complain sensory disturbance and the other group, the CPT increased on the whole in the former group, but there were no statistical significances. In the groups, whom there was an increase in VAS, the CPT after the implant operation in the right C-fiber(5 Hz) increased significantly; meanwhile, in case that the VAS mark was '0' before and after the operation, the CPT after the operation in the left $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) increased significantly. This study suggested that the CPT measurements using $Neurometer^{(R)}$ CPT/C, provide useful information of objective and quantitative sensory disturbances for tooth implantation.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.184-192
• /
• 2020

This study presents a gait analysis method (including time series analysis) using a smart insole as an objective and quantitative evaluating method after lumbar scoliosis surgery. The participant is a degenerative lumbar scoliosis patient. She took 3-min-gait-test four times(before and 8, 16, and 204-days after surgery) and 6-min-gait-test once(204-days after surgery) with smart-insoles in her shoes. Each insole has 8-pressure sensors, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope. The measured values were used to compare the characteristics of gait before and after surgery. The analysis showed that all of the patient's gait parameters improved after surgery. And after 6 months, the gait was more stable. However, after long walk, the swing duration of one leg was slightly shorter than that of the other again. It was a preclinical problem that could not be found in the visual examination by the practitioner. With this analysis method we could evaluate the improvement of patient quantitatively and objectively. And we could find a preclinical problem. This analysis method will lead to the studies that define and distinguish gait patterns of certain diseases, helping to determine appropriate treatments.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.39 no.6 s.263
• /
• pp.462-469
• /
• 2006

Background: Pneumonectomy for inflammatory lung disease has been of major concern because of its associated morbidity and mortality, particularly with respect to pleuropneumonectomy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the surgical outcomes, and identify the risk factors contributing to postoperative complications in patients undergoing pleuropneumonectomy. Material and Method: Ninety-eight patients underwent pneumonectomy for benign inflammatory lung disease were retrospectively analyzed. Pleuropneumonectomy (Group A) was done in 48 patients and standard pneumonectomy (Group B) was done in 50 patients. Clinical characteristics, postoperative complications were examined and compared between 2 groups. In pleuropneumonectomy group, postoperative risk factors affecting morbidity were evaluated. Result: There was one in-hospital death. Twenty-three major postoperative complications occurred in 21 patients (21.4%). The common complications were empyema and bronchopieural fistula (BPF) in 8 (8.4%), re-exploration due to bleeding in 8. At least one postoperative complication occurred in 14 of 48 patients from Group A (29.2%) and in 7 of 50 patients from Group B (14%). In Group A, empyema and BPF encountered in 6 and re-exploration for bleeding in 6 were the most common complication. In univariate analysis, right pneumonectomy, completion pneumonectomy, large amount of blood loss (>1,000 mL), and intrapleural spillage were risk factors contributing to postoperative complications in Group A. In multivariate analysis, intrapleural contamination during operation was a risk factor of postoperative complication. Conclusion: The morbidity and mortality rates of pneumonectomy for chronic inflammatory lung disease are acceptably. However, we confirm that pleuropneumonectomy is a real technical challenge and a high-risk procedure and technically demanding. Meticulous surgical techniques are very important in preventing serious and potentially lethal complications.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.281-293
• /
• 2020

An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is one of the most frequent surgical procedures in the knee joint, but despite the better understanding of anatomy and biomechanics, surgical reconstruction procedures still fail to restore rotational stability in 7%-16% of patients. Hence, many studies have attempted to identify the factors for rotational laxity, including the anterolateral ligament (ALL), but still showed controversies. Descriptions of the ALL anatomy are also confused by overlapping nomenclature, but it is usually known as a distinctive fiber running in an anteroinferior and oblique direction from the lateral epicondyle of the femur to the proximal anterolateral tibia, between the fibular head and Gerdy's tubercle. The importance of the ALL as a secondary restraint in the knee has been emphasized for successful ACL reconstructions that can restore rotational stability, but there is still some controversy. Some studies reported that the ALL could be a restraint to the tibial rotation, but not to anterior tibial translation. On the other hand, some studies reported that the role of ALL in rotational stability would be limited as a secondary structure because it bears loads only beyond normal biomechanical motion. The diagnosis of an ALL injury can be performed by a physical examination, radiology examination, and magnetic resonance imaging, but it should be assessed using a multimodal approach. Recently, ALL was considered one of the anterolateral complex structures, as well as the Kaplan fiber in the iliotibial band. Many studies have introduced many indications and treatment options, but there is still some debate. The treatment methods are introduced mainly as ALL reconstructions or lateral extra-articular tenodesis, which can achieve additional benefit to the knee stability. Further studies will be needed on the indications and proper surgical methods of ALL treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.21-25
• /
• 2003

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for decortication or debridement in the management of empyema thoracis has increased the available treatment options but requires validation. We present and evaluate our technique and experience with thoracoscopic management of pleural empyema, irrespective of chronicity. Material and Method : VATS debridement or decortication was performed with endoscopic shaver system in 40 consecutive patients presented with pleural space infections. A retrospective review was performed and the effect of this technique on perioperative outcome was assessed. Result : VATS evacuation of infected pleural fluid and decortication was successfully performed in 35 of 40 patients. The mean duration of preoperative symptoms before referral was 23$\pm$1.8 days. The mean duration of hospitalization before transfer was 13.5$\pm$1.5 days. Blood loss was 250 to 200 mL. Intercostal drainage was required for 5$\pm$3 days. The postoperative hospital stay was 5 $\pm$0.7 days. There were no operative mortalities. Conclusion : Video-assisted evacuation of infected pleural fluid and decortication is an effective modality in the management of the fibropurulent stage of empyema. An organized empyema should be approached thoracosco-pically, but may require open decortication.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.43-47
• /
• 2013

Purpose: A duplicated ureter is congenital renal malformations with ureter in two. Patients with duplicated ureter are in force to $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ scan at surgery before and after. In existing examination, at produce result after $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ scan, didn't compare to upper pole and lower pole with malformed kidney and compared to only relative uptake ratio. Therefore, this study will examine about utility of set a partial region of interest and to functional recovery of renal cell through change of upper pole uptake ratio of malformed kidney by setting each partial region of interest in upper pole and lower pole of malformed kidney in $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ examination in surgery before and after. Materials and Methods: Pediatric patients with malformed kidney of incomplete duplicated ureter, 15 patients were enrolled in this study. Scanning were scan 3 to 4 hours after injection of $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ 1.5 ~ 1.9 MBq/kg. Region of interest were each set in normal kidney, upper pole and lower pole with malformed kidney. Region of interest were set with same condition and method to images of surgery before and after that radio technologist 1 person, resident of nuclear medicine 1 person and doctor of urology together. Therefore, this study were compared to uptake ratio (A: B: C) that normal kidney (A), lower pole of malformed kidney (B) and upper pole of malformed kidney (C) about uptake ratio changes of malformed kidney in follow-up examination of surgery before and after. Results: When compared to 15 patients, uptake ratios were increased 7 persons and decreased 8 persons. Among increased 7 persons, it were periods of follow-up examination that 2 persons were 14 months, 4 persons were 12 months and 1 person was 8 months after surgery. Among decreased 8 persons, it were periods of follow-up examination that 4 persons were 12 months 3 persons were 6 months and 1 persons were 4 months after surgery. Conclusion: Existing study could not see the exact uptake ratio changes of malformed kidney because using only the overall Left-Right kidney uptake ratios. But a setting partial region of interest was able to see exactly what changes in the uptake of each upper pole and lower pole of malformed kidney. Because recovery of renal parenchymal cells is difficult in an evaluation of short period of time, follow-up examination should be made in long period of time. How to set up partial region of interest be thought that it would be useful.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.20-31
• /
• 2005

Three dimensional Monte-Carlo simulations of non-ergodic transport of a lion-reactive solute plume by steady-state groundwater flow under a uniform mean velocity in isotropic heterogeneous aquifers were conducted. The log-normally distributed hydraulic conductivity, K(x), is modeled as a random field. Significant efforts are made to reduce tile simulation uncertainties. Ensemble averages of the second spatial moments of the plume and plume centroid variances were simulated with 1600 Monte Carlo runs for three variances of log K, ${\sigma}_Y^2=0.09,\;0.23$, and 0.46, and three dimensionless lengths of line plume sources normal to the mean velocity. The simulated second spatial moment and the plume centroid variance in longitudinal direction fit well to the first order theoretical results while the simulated transverse moments are generally larger than the first order results. The first order theoretical results significantly underestimated the simulated dimensionless transverse moments for the aquifers of large ${\sigma}_Y^2$ and large dimensionless time. The ergodic condition for the second spatial moments is far from reaching in all cases simulated, and transport In transverse directions may reach ergodic condition much slower than that in longitudinal direction. The evolution of the contaminant transported in a heterogeneous aquifer is not affected by the shape of the initial plume but affected mainly by the degree of the heterogeneity and the size of the initial plume.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.75-81
• /
• 2012

Objectives : Thyroid cancer patients may experience emotional distress during cancer treatment including surgical operation and radioactive iodine treatment. The aims of this prospective study were to investigate changes of anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer(DTC) under preoperative, postoperative and short-term hypothyroidism state. Methods : Using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale(HAD) and the Distress Thermometer, we sequentially assessed the levels of anxiety, depression and distress in 41 DTC patients at 3 time points such as preoperative state, postoperative state and short-term hypothyroidism state. Results : The HAD-anxiety score was significantly higher in preoperative state($6.93{\pm}3.97$) than postoperative state($4.22{\pm}2.92$) and short-term hypothyroidism state($4.93{\pm}3.64$). Any other significant change in depression or distress thermometer score was not observed. Especially, difference of HADS score between the distress and none-distress groups was significant in preoperative state and post-operative state, but the difference become not significant in the short-term hypothyroidism state. Conclusions : Induced thyroid hormone deficiency during cancer treatment does not significantly affect emotional distress in patient with DTC. Anxiety and depression in these patients may be associated with distress of the patient before active cancer treatment.