• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.238-243
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• 2009

Background: Radiofrequency obliteration and endovenous laser therapy of the greater saphenous vein have recently been introduced as alternative, minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of saphenous vein incompetence. The 7 Fr. VNUS $ClosureFAST^{(R)}$ radiofrequency obliteration system was introduced in Gwang-Ju Veterans hospital. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and complications of radiofrequency obliteration using the 7 Fr. VNUS $ClosureFAST^{(R)}$ system. Material and Method: Between May 2, 2007 and May 31, 2008, we performed radiofrequency obliteration on 90 patients. The number of males was 67 and their mean age was $57.9{\pm}11.0$ (range: $23{\sim}78$) years old. The patients underwent follow up exams at 3 weeks after the procedures and then every 3 months. The effects of treatment and the complications were reviewed. Result: The postoperative complications were ecchymosis (94.4%), pain (27.8%), paresthesia (25.6%), bullous formation (8.9%), edema (6.7%) and phlebitis (2.2%). One patient showed good blood flow after 3 weeks and one patient showed good blood flow after 3 months. The one-year success rate of radiofrequency obliteration in varicose veins was 97.6%. Conclusion: Our data showed acceptable operative results and short-term clinical results for treating varicose veins with radio frequency obliteration. Long-term follow-up and comparison of radio frequency obliteration with high ligation and stripping, previous radiofrequency ablation and endovenous laser therapy are needed in the future.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.132-138
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• 2007

Purpose: In Korea, the number of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomies for early gastric cancer patients has been on the increase. Although minimally invasive surgery is more beneficial, no reported case of a total laparoscopic gastrectomy has been reported because of difficulty with intracorporeal anastomosis. This study attempts, through our experience, to determine the safety and feasibility of a total laparoscopic gastrectomy with various types of intracorporeal anastomosis using laparoscopic linears stapler in treating early gastric carcinomas. Materials and Methods: We investigated the surgical results and clinicopatholgical characteristics of 81 patients that underwent a totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy at our department between June 2004 and May 2007. The intracorporeal anastomoses were performed by using laparoscopic linear staplers. Results: The mean operative time was 287 minutes, the mean anastomotic time was 40 minutes, and the mean number of laparoscopic linear staplers used for an operation was 7.5. The mean time to the first flatus, the first food intake, and discharge from hospital was 2.9, 3.6, and 10.3 days respectively. There were 11 cases of postoperative complications, but no case of postoperative mortality or conversion to an open procedure. In 75 patients with an adenocarcinoma, the mean number of lymph nodes harvested was 38.1 and the stage distribution was as follows: stage I, 72 patients; stage II, 2 patients; stage IV, 1 patient. During the mean follow-up period of 14 months, 5 patients died of other causes and there were no cases of cancer recurrence. Conclusion: A total laparoscopic gastrectomy with intracorporeal anastomosis by using a laparoscopic linear stapler was found to be safe and feasible. We were able to obtain acceptable surgical outcomes in terms of minimal invasiveness.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 2004

Background: Video-assisted sympathicotomy is a safe and effective method for the treatment of essential hyperhidrosis with immediate symptomatic improvement. However, this is offset by the occurrence of a high rate of side-effects, such as embarrassing compensatory hyperhidrosis. Therefore, by comparing and assessing the relationship between temperature change measured by DITI (digital infrared thermographic imaging) and clinical results according to the level and extent of sympathicotomy in essential hyperhidrosis. we tried to obtain a more precisely and objectively, the distribution and degree of compensatory sweating by DITI and also for ascertaining the clinical usefulness. Material and Method: From January 2000 to June 2002, the thoracoscopic sympathicotomy was performed in 28 patients suffering from essential hyperhidrosis in Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Wonkwang University Hospital. The patients were divided into four groups, Group I: patients having undergone T2 sympathicotomy, Group II: patients having undergone T3 sympathicotomy, Group III: patients having undergone T3,4 sympathicotomy, and Group IV: patients having undergone T2,3,4 sympathicotomy. The parameters were composed of the satisfaction rate of treatment, the degree of compensatory and plantar sweating, and temperature changes of entire body measured by DITI Result: There was no difference in age and follow-up period among the groups. All of the treated patients obtained satisfactory alleviation of essential hyperhidrosis in immediate postoperative period. However, the rate of long-term satisfaction were 85.8%, 85.8%, 42.9%, and 28.6% in group I, II, III, and IV (p<0.05). More than embarrassing compensatory sweating was present in 14.2%, 14.2%, 57.1%, 71.4% in group I, II, III, and IV (p<0.05) In regard to plantar sweating, decrease in sweating was expressed in each of four groups, but was not significant between groups. An apparent increase of temperature measured by DITI indicated sufficient denervation and predicted long-lasting relief of essential hyperhidrosis and also decrease in temperature of trunk and lower extremity by DITI had correlated well with postoperative satisfaction, and also postoperative compensatory sweating. Conclusion: We suggested that the incidence and degree of compensatory sweating was closely related to the site and the extent of thoracic sympathicotomy. Resection of the lower interganglionic neural fiber of the second thoracic sympathetic ganglion on the third rib is the most practical and minimally invasive treatment than other surgical methods. We were also to anticipated the distribution and degree of compensatory sweating by DITI precisely and objectively and for ascertaining the clinical usefulness.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.201-205
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the result of arthroscopic excision of painful Os subtibiale and Os subfibulare. Materials and Methods: Sixteen patients who had accessory bone in the ankle joint were treated by arthroscopy. Os subtibiale was four cases and os subfibulare twelve. The average follow-up period was 9 months$(range:6{\sim}42months)$. All patients were evaluated clinically with physical examination and radiologically with simple X-ray and for further evaluation, eight with bone scan, three with computed tomography and twelve with magnetic resonance image. We estimated the result of resection with Ogilvie-Harris's criteria. Results: All parameters of subjective and functional evaluation were improved with statistical significance(p<0.05). At final evaluation, eight patients still complained of mild pain and among them, three patients for synovitis, three for tendinitis on MRI and two for incomplete resection. Conclusion: The arthroscopic resection is a very effective method for painful os subtibiale and subfibulare using small incisions and for treatment of associated lesion. The preoperative radiological evaluation is essential and magnetic resornance image is useful for detecting of associated lesion.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.247-256
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of operative treatment using mini-open sinus tarsi approach for displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures. Materials and Methods: We studied 18 cases (16 patients) of intraarticular calcaneal fractures who were treated with sinus tarsi approach by same surgeon. The mean age of patients was 44.8 years, and mean follow-up period was 17.2 months. The measurement of B$\ddot{o}$hler angle, Gissane angle, the degree of articular surface depression, and the period to union were performed through preoperative and postoperative radiographs. The clinical evaluation was performed according to hindfoot score of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) and scale of the Creighton-Nebraska health foundation (CNHF). Results: B$\ddot{o}$hler angle and Gissane angle had improved significantly from preoperative average $9.8^{\circ}$, $117.6^{\circ}$to average $22.4^{\circ}$, $113.4^{\circ}$ immediate postoperatively, and had maintained to average $21.8^{\circ}$and $114.2^{\circ}$ at the last follow-up. The degree of articular surface depression had improved significantly from preoperative average 5.2 mm to 1.2 mm at the last follow-up. All cases achieved bone union, and the period to union was average 10.5 weeks. AOFAS score was average 86.2 points at the last follow-up. There were 7 excellent, 9 good, and 2 fair results according to the CNHF scale. Therefore, 16 cases (88.8%) achieved satisfactory results. Conclusion: The minimally invasive sinus tarsi approach using headless compression screw seems to be an effective surgical method for displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures, because of the possibility of accurate restoration of articular surface and the low risk of postoperative soft tissue complications.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.331-337
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• 2022

Raman spectroscopy is an optical technique that can identify molecules in a label-free manner, and is therefore heavily investigated in various areas ranging from biomedical engineering to materials science. Probe-based Raman spectroscopy can perform minimally invasive chemical analysis, and thus has potential as a real-time diagnostic tool during surgery. In this study, Raman experimentation was calibrated by examining the Raman shifts with respect to the concentrations of chemical substances. Raman signal characteristics, targeted for normal mice and cerebral tissues of the 5xFAD dementia mutant model with accumulated amyloid beta plaques, were measured and analyzed to explore the possibility of diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The application to the diagnosis of dementia was cross-validated by measuring Raman signals of amyloid beta. The results suggest the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool that may be useful in various areas of application.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.447-456
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• 2008

Background: Caspase-3 is a cysteine protease that plays a major role in the process of apoptotic cell death. The dysregulated expression of c-myc contributes to the tumorigenesis in a variety of human cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the expressions of caspase-3 and c-myc and their significances as prognosis markers in patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Material and Method: A total 130 consecutive patients who had undergone complete resection without pre-operative radio-therapy or chemotherapy between May 1996 and December 2003 for NSCLC were retrospectively reviewed. The median follow-up period of the patients was 50 months (range: $3{\sim}128$ months). The expressions of caspase-3 and c-myc were immuno-histochemically examined, and these were correlated with the clinico-pathologic data. Result: The prevalence of caspase-3 and c-myc expressions in the patients was 68% (88/130) and 59% (77/130), respectively. Significant association was found between the frequency of the expressions of caspase-3 and c-myc (p=0.025). The caspase-3 and c-myc expressions were not significantly associated with the prognosis in all the patients. However, according to stages, a positive caspase-3 expression was significantly correlated with a favorable prognosis for patients with stage IIIa disease (median survival period: 35 months vs. 10 months, p=0.021). Multivariate analysis showed the pathologic stage to be significantly correlated with a good prognosis in all the patients (p=0.024), and with a positive caspase-3 expression, well differentiated tumor and negative neuronal invasion in the patients with stage llla disease (p=0.005, p=0.003, p=0.004, respectively). Conclusion: Caspase-3 and c-myc were frequently expressed in NSCLC, suggesting its possible involvement in tumor development. The caspase-3 expression, as determined with performing immunohistochemical staining, may be a favorable prognostic indicator in patients with completely resected NSCLC an advanced stage (IIIa).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.4
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• pp.923-935
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• 2021

Purpose We aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for treating hemothorax caused by chest trauma. Materials and Methods Between 2015 and 2019, 68 patients (56 male; mean age, 58.2 years) were transferred to our interventional unit for selective TAE to treat thoracic bleeding. We retrospectively investigated their demographics, angiographic findings, embolization techniques, technical and clinical success rates, and complications. Results Bleeding occurred mostly from the intercostal arteries (50%) and the internal mammary arteries (29.5%). Except one patient, TAE achieved technical success, defined as the immediate cessation of bleeding, in all the other patients. Four patients successfully underwent repeated TAE for delayed bleeding or increasing hematoma after the initial TAE. The clinical success rate, defined as no need for thoracotomy for hemostasis after TAE, was 92.6%. Five patients underwent post-embolization thoracotomy for hemostasis. No patient developed major TAE-related complications, such as cerebral infarction or quadriplegia. Conclusion TAE is a safe, effective and minimally invasive method for controlling thoracic wall and intrathoracic systemic arterial hemorrhage after thoracic trauma. TAE may be considered for patients with hemothorax without other concomitant injuries which require emergency surgery, or those who undergoing emergency TAE for abdominal or pelvic hemostasis.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2013

Purpose: Pediatric urolithiasis is uncommon in children but is a cause of significant morbidity and damage to the kidney. Although much information on adult urolithiasis is available in the literature, large studies on the pediatric population are still scarce. In this report, we review our experience with pediatric urolithiasis over 22 years at a tertiary referral center. Method: We retrospectively reviewed the records of children with newly diagnosed urolithiasis between January 1991 and May 2013. We assessed the age, sex, family history, initial symptoms, location of stones, underlying cause, stone analysis, treatment, and recurrence among the patients. Results: In total, 137 patients (96 male, 41 female) were assessed. The age range was 0-17 years (mean age, 6.0 years). Forty-three (31%) children were aged <1 year, and 37% (16/43) had a history of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Thirteen patients (9.5%) had a family history of stones. The most common symptoms at presentation among the patients were gross hematuria (56/137, 41%) and flank or abdominal pain (46/137, 34%). The stones were located in the kidney (85/137, 62%), ureter (29/137, 21%), bladder (2/137, 1.4%), and multiple locations (20/137, 15 %). Congenital abnormalities of the genitourinary (G-U) tract, with or without metabolic abnormality, or urinary tract infection (UTI) was detected in 26 children (19%). Ninety-one patients (66%) underwent metabolic examination, and 38% of these patients exhibited an abnormality. UTI, with or without abnormalities of the G-U tract, or metabolic abnormality was detected in 26 children (19%). Of the 35 stones analyzed, the majority were calcium stones (20/35, 57%), followed by infected stones (5/35, 14%), uric acid stones (4/35, 11%), carbonate apatite stones (3/35, 7%), cystine stones (2/35, 6%), and phosphate stones (1/35, 3%). Five patients (4%) required open procedures, with or without non-open procedures, whereas 77 patients (56%) were managed conservatively; the remaining 55 patients (40%) received some other form of intervention. Eighteen patients (13%) had stone recurrence during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Pediatric urolithiasis is commonly associated with abnormalities of the G-U tract and/or metabolic disorders and/or UTI. Half of the patients will pass their stones spontaneously, and all the techniques of minimally invasive surgery are applicable in the treatment of children with stones. As the recurrence rates are high among this population, long-term follow-up is recommended and the complete clearance of stones is important.