• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.353-358
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this clinical retrospective study was to evaluate our experience of radial forearm free flap for reconstruction of the oral cavity. Material and methods: From 1997 to 2006, 50 radial forearm free flaps were employed for head and neck reconstruction in 50 patients at department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Yonsei University, Korea. Data were obtained from chart review, and clinical follow-up. Results: Patients' age ranged from 26 to 82 years (mean 53.2). There were 39 men and 11 women. 43 of the 50(86%) patients had squamous cell carcinoma. The total flap survival were 47(94%), complication rate were revealed for 15(30%). Conclusion: In the reconstruction of soft tissue within the oral cavity, several free flaps have been used. Because of its constant anatomy, long pedicle allows a hypothetic vascular anastomosis in the contralateral neck, contourability for various type of oral defects, pliability and can be used simultaneous reconstruction in intraoral and extra oral defects, the radial forearm free flap constitutes one of the best choice of intraoral soft tissue reconstruction.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2016

Purpose: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic pain condition involving the oral and perioral regions, often characterized by a burning sensation and pain in elderly patients. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of pharmacological agents for the treatment of BMS patients through a retrospective chart review. Methods: We enrolled 61 BMS subjects (57 females, 4 males; $66.4{\pm}10.9$ years of age) from among consecutive patients treated pharmacologically from January 2014 to June 2015 at Chonnam National University Dental Hospital. Patients with secondary BMS associated with local factors were excluded. The treatment period, number of pharmacological agents tried, and effectiveness of the drugs administered to each subject were analyzed. Results: The mean treatment period for the management of BMS was 2.5 months. More than three agents were tried to control BMS symptoms in 17 subjects (27.9%); two agents were used in 10 subjects (16.4%), and a single agent in 24 subjects (39.3%). Clonazepam was prescribed most frequently and was effective at relieving symptoms in 30 of 39 subjects (76.9%). Paroxetine was moderately effective, relieving symptoms in 7 of 17 subjects (41.2%). Some of the subjects benefited from tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentin, and lipoic acid. A topical local anesthetic used to supplement other systemic agents had ameliorating effects in four of six subjects. Conclusions: Within the study limitations, clonazepam was the most effective drug and antidepressants were efficacious in some subjects for relieving the symptoms of BMS. These pharmacological agents could be considered as first-line drugs for the management of BMS.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2020

Background Nipple reconstruction is usually performed as a delayed procedure in patients with breast cancer who undergo skin-sparing mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery using a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap. The authors designed this study to evaluate the utility of breast reconstruction based on a DIEP flap and immediate nipple reconstruction. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of all patients who underwent breast reconstruction performed by a single plastic surgeon from October 2016 to June 2018. Through a questionnaire and chart review, we compared surgical results and complications in cases of single-stage nipple reconstruction after skin-sparing mastectomy (n=17) with patients who underwent delayed nipple reconstruction after skin-sparing mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, or simple mastectomy (n=7). Results In a subjective analysis using clinical photos, the immediate nipple reconstruction group had higher scores than their counterparts in an evaluation of the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) (NAC placement, 3.34 vs. 3.04; nipple projection, 3.05 vs. 3.03; nipple size, 3.30 vs. 3.29). No significant differences between the groups were found in terms of complications. Conclusions Simultaneous nipple reconstruction is a reliable surgical method with economic advantages. No differences were found in terms of outcomes and complications in comparison to delayed reconstruction. Therefore, surgeons can consider simultaneous nipple reconstruction without particular concerns about asymmetry or necrosis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.447-456
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• 2020

Objectives: This review aimed to present the characteristics of hepatocellular cancer patients treated by Korean medicine. Methods: Sixty hepatocellular cancer patients in a Korean medicine hospital from July 2012 to December 2019 were studied. We evaluated the general characteristics, overall therapies, and chief complaints of the patients. Results: Of the patients, 55% were stage IV, and Korean medicine was accompanied by conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy, operation, and transarterial chemoembolization. An average number of hepatocellular cancer patients had admitted to the hospital. The patients' chief complaints were dyspnea, general weakness, abdominal discomfort, and cancer-related pain. Conclusions: This study illustrates the general characteristics of hepatocellular cancer patients on Korean medicine treatments. These findings suggest that further investigations with a rigorous study design and more participants are needed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the safety of 'Gamitaeeumjowee-tang' by analyzing adverse events in weight loss program in combination with 'Gamitaeeumjowee-tang' and low-calorie diet. Methods: A retrospective review of adverse events in weight loss program in combination with 'Gamitaeeumjowee-tang' and low-calorie diet from the electronic medical chart (n=124) between June 2015 and December 2016 was conducted. Three Korean Medicine Doctors (KMDs) reviewed adverse events for two times, during week 2 to 4 and at week 10, after starting weight loss program. Adverse events were evaluated in terms of causality, severity and system-organ classes. Also, agreement among the three KMDs was made through further discussion in case of disagreement after independent review. Results: The overall rate of adverse events was 37.1% during week 2 to 4 and 16.9% at week 10. For causality of adverse events using the World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Centre causality categories, 52.2% were evaluated 'possible' at week 2-4 and 57.1% were evaluated 'unlikely' at week 10. All symptoms were evaluated as 'mild' by LDS scale. Nausea (15, 12.1%) was the most frequent adverse event at week 2-4 and dizziness (6, 4.8%) was the most common at week 10. Conclusions: Adverse events decreased over time. There were no serious adverse events and none of the subjects were dropped due to adverse events. Continuous study is needed to prove the safety of 'Gamitaeeumjowee-tang' for treating obesity.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.205-218
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• 2021

Background: Korean medicine treatment was assessed in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) according to subgroups of: sex, age, cause of knee OA, body mass index, hospitalization period, history, OA compartment, phenotype, and comorbidity. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 122 inpatients who were admitted to the Hospital of Korean Medicine for Korean medicine treatment of knee pain, and were diagnosed with knee OA based on magnetic resonance imaging findings. Analysis of patient subgroups (sex, age, cause of knee OA, body mass index, hospitalization period, history, OA compartment, phenotype, and comorbidity) was carried out and treatments including acupuncture, cupping, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, chuna therapy, medicinal steaming therapy, manual therapy, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy were listed. The numeric rating scale (NRS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and 5-level EuroQol- 5 Dimension (EQ-5D-5L) scores were measured before and after treatment to assess the effects of treatment on pain and quality of life. Results: Seventeen males and 105 females were included in this study. Most patients were in their 60s. In the total study population, NRS, WOMAC, and EQ-5D-5L scores were improved statistically significant when comparing before and after treatment. The NRS and WOMAC scores improved statistically significant in the medial, patellofemoral, medial + patellofemoral, medial + lateral + patellofemoral compartment. Conclusion: Korean medicine treatment significantly reduced pain, stiffness, and physical dysfunction, and improved the quality of life of patients with knee OA, suggesting that it may be an effective alternative to the current conservative treatments.

• Journal of Clinical Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.204-211
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• 2018

Background and Objectives : Unilateral maxillary sinus lesions are relatively common but may occur in variety of causes. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment are needed. The aim of this study is to review patients with unilateral maxillary sinus lesion who underwent surgical treatment and to analyze causes and characteristics of unilateral maxillary sinus lesions with literature review. Materials and Methods : A retrospective chart analysis was completed on 318 patients with unilateral maxillary sinus lesions who underwent surgical treatment from January, 2008 through May, 2018. Clinical history and data such as age, sex, symptoms of initial, radiologic and dental finding, operation type were collected from medical record. Results : Patients mean age was 50.7 years with slight male gender dominance. Most common type was sinusitis (42.7%), followed by odontogenic sinusitis (22.3%) and fungal ball (19.5%). In particular, the most common cause of odontogenic sinusitis was post dental surgery such as implant. Middle meatal antrostomy (90.9%) was accounted for a great part of surgery underwent to patients. Patients complained of post nasal discharge (62.9%), nasal obstruction (40.9%) and odor smell(35.2%) most commonly. Periapical lucency (35.8%) was the most common in CT finding followed by implant perforation (17.3%) and oroantral fistula (12.3%) in odontogenic sinusitis. Conclusions : Unilateral maxillary sinus lesions are relatively common, but they are increasing recently with dental procedures such as implant surgery, and serious adverse effects due to malignant tumors or improper treatment may occur, so accurate diagnosis and treatment are needed.

• Neurospine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.383-387
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• 2018

Objective: Lower back pain (LBP) is a worldwide health problem, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a common modality used to aid in its diagnosis. Although specific guidelines for assessing the necessity of MRI usage exist, the use of MRI as the initial imaging method for LBP seems to be more common than necessary in general practice. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 313 patients who had undergone MRI of the lumbosacral spine during 2014-2015. We recorded and compared various factors, including age, sex, body mass index, current smoking status, race, symptoms, MRI findings, and progression to surgery within the next year. All rates were compared according to whether the MRI results showed radiographically significant findings (MRI-positive) or not (MRI-negative) using the chi-square or Fisher exact tests (if the expected cell count was <5). All analyses were performed using SAS version 9.4. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of each symptom between the MRI-positive and MRI-negative groups, which accounted for 58.5% (183 of 313) and 41.5% (130 of 313) of the MRIs, respectively. The difference in the rate of surgery in the next year (18% among MRI-positive patients and 8.5% among MRI-negative patients) was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: Based on our findings, 41.5% of patients underwent lumbar MRI unnecessarily and 81% of patients with positive MRIs did not have surgery within the next year. Further physician training is needed to avoid unnecessary investigations and expenditures.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.310-322
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• 2021

The incidence of extremity amputation is estimated at about 200,000 cases annually. Over 25% of patients suffer from terminal neuroma or phantom limb pain (TNPLP), resulting in pain, inability to wear a prosthetic device, and lost work. Once TNPLP develops, there is no definitive cure. Therefore, there has been an emerging focus on TNPLP prevention. We examined the current literature on TNPLP prevention in patients undergoing extremity amputation. A literature review was performed using Ovid Medline, Cochrane Collaboration Library, and Google Scholar to identify all original studies that addressed surgical prophylaxis against TNPLP. The search was conducted using both Medical Subject Headings and free-text using the terms "phantom limb pain," "amputation neuroma," and "surgical prevention of amputation neuroma." Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria, including six prospective trials, two comprehensive literature reviews, four retrospective chart reviews, and three case series/technique reviews. Five techniques were identified, and each was incorporated into a targetbased classification system. A small but growing body of literature exists regarding the surgical prevention of TNPLP. Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR), a form of physiologic target reassignment, has the greatest momentum in the academic surgical community, with multiple recent prospective studies demonstrating superior prevention of TNPLP. Neurorrhaphy and transposition with implantation are supported by less robust evidence, but merit future study as alternatives to TMR.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted primarily through droplets, and dental practitioners are at risk of occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection owing to direct contact with the patient's mouth, aerosols from dental procedures, and saliva. Wearing a mask is believed to be the best method of protection against infection, and a systematic literature review was conducted on whether the dental masks used in dentistry are effective in preventing Coronavirus Infectious Disease-19 (COVID-19). Methods: We used PubMed, Google Scholar, DBpia, NDSL, and KISS databases for this study. Of the 917 documents narrowed down by the search terms "Coronavirus, COVID-19, and dental," 83 documents were collected and studied. Ultimately, 42 of these papers were selected for analysis after considering duplication from the flow chart of the literature selection process. Results: While dental masks are often used when treating patients with unknown COVID-19 status, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated that the use of dental masks is insufficient in preventing cross-transmission of COVID-19; instead, it was recommended that N95 masks, which correspond to KF94 masks, should be worn daily. On the other hand, wearing a dental mask and following precautions such as hand hygiene may not pose a significantly higher risk of infection than wearing an N95 mask when treating COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: There is an ongoing discussion regarding the use of dental masks when treating dental patients, and many argue that different types of masks should be selected according to the degree of infection and the individual's respiratory condition. By considering the safety and efficacy of dental masks in preventing infection, improvements can be made in the management of COVID-19 and dental-related infections.