• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.238-245
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• 2015

Background: Some patients show favorable changes in the descending aortic false lumen after conventional repair of acute type A dissection, although the incidence of favorable changes has been reported to be low. We aimed to investigate the incidence of positive postoperative changes in the false lumen and the factors associated with positive outcomes. Methods: In 63 patients who underwent surgery for type A acute dissection as well as serial computed tomography (CT) scanning, morphological parameters were compared between the preoperative, early postoperative (mean interval, 5.4 days), and late CT scans (mean interval, 31.0 months) at three levels of the descending thoracic aorta. Results: In the early postoperative CT images, complete false lumen thrombosis and/or true lumen expansion at the proximal descending aorta was observed in 46% of the patients. In the late images, complete thrombosis or resolution of the proximal descending false lumen occurred in 42.9% of the patients. Multivariate analysis found that juxta-anastomotic false lumen thrombosis was predictive of favorable early changes, which were in turn predictive of continuing later improvement. Conclusion: Even after conventional repair without inserting a frozen elephant trunk, the proximal descending aortic false lumen showed positive remodeling in a substantial number of patients. We believe that the long-term prognosis of type A dissection can be improved by refining surgical technique, and particularly by avoiding large intimal tears at the anastomosis site during the initial repair.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.365-369
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• 2009

Objective : Susceptibility-weighted image (SWI) is a sensitive magnetic resonance image (MRI) technique to detect cerebral microbleeds (MBLs). which would not be detected by conventional MRI. We performed SWI to detect MBLs and investigated its usefulness in the evaluation of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) patients. Methods : From December 2006 to June 2007, twenty-one MTBI patients without any parenchymal hemorrhage on conventional MRI were selected. Forty-two patients without trauma were selected for control group. According to the presence of MBLs, we divided the MTBI group into MBLs positive [SWI (+)] and negative [SWI (-)] group. Regional distribution of MBLs and clinical factors were compared between groups. Results : Fifty-one MBLs appeared in 16 patients of SWI (+) group and 16 MBLs in 10 patients of control group [control (+)], respectively. In SWI (+) group, MBLs were located more frequently in white matters than in deep nucleus different from the control (+) group (p<0.05). Nine patients (56.3%) of SW (+) group had various neurological deficits (disorientation in 4, visual field defect in 2, hearing difficulty in 2 and Parkinson syndrome in 1). Initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)/mean Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) were $13.9{\pm}1.5/4.7{\pm}0.8$ and $15.0{\pm}0.0/5.0{\pm}0.0$ in SWI (+) and SWI (-) groups, respectively (p<0.05). Conclusion : Traumatic cerebral MBLs showed characteristic regional distribution, and seemed to have an importance on the initial neurological status and the prognosis. SWI is useful for detection of traumatic cerebral MBLs, and can provide etiologic evidences for some post-traumatic neurologic deficits which were unexplainable with conventional MRI.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.308-318
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• 2021

Purpose: The benefits of robotic gastrectomy remain controversial. We designed this study to elucidate the advantages of a hybrid robot and laparoscopic gastrectomy over conventional laparoscopic surgery. Materials and Methods: A total of 176 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer were included in this study. We compared 88 patients treated with hybrid robotic and laparoscopic gastrectomy (HRLG) and 88 patients who underwent conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy (CLG). In HRLG, suprapancreatic lymph node (LN) dissection was performed in a robotic setting. Clinicopathological characteristics, operative details, and short-term outcomes were analyzed for the patients. Results: The number of LNs retrieved from the suprapancreatic area was significantly greater in the HRLG group (11.27±5.46 vs. 9.17±5.19, P=0.010). C-reactive protein levels were greater in the CLG group on both postoperative day (POD) 1 (5.11±2.64 vs. 4.29±2.38, P=0.030) and POD 5 (9.86±6.51 vs. 7.75±5.17, P=0.019). In addition, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly greater in the CLG group on both POD 1 (7.44±4.72 vs. 6.16±2.91, P=0.031) and POD 5 (4.87±3.75 vs. 3.81±1.87, P=0.020). Pulmonary complications occurred only in the CLG group (4/88 [4.5%] vs. 0/88 [0%], P=0.043). Conclusions: HRLG is superior to CLG in terms of suprapancreatic LN dissection and postoperative inflammatory response.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2021

Background In patients with congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN), single-stage removal of large lesions can be difficult because the high tension created by excising and repairing a large lesion may result in scar widening. Herein, we introduce a method to effectively excise lesions while minimizing scarring and compare its outcomes to those of existing surgical methods. Methods We compared patients who underwent surgery using the anchoring technique (n=42) or the conventional elliptical technique (n=36). One side of the lesion was removed via en bloc resection up to the superficial fascia. The other side of the lesion was removed via de-epithelialization. The de-epithelialized dermal flap was then fixed by suturing it to the superficial fascia on the opposite side. The length of the lesion's long axis and amount of scar widening were measured immediately after surgery and at 2, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. At 12 months, patients were assessed using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale. Results The lesion locations included the face, arms, legs, back, and abdomen. The anchoring method resulted in shorter and smaller scars than the conventional method. There were no cases of postoperative hematoma or wound dehiscence. Significant differences in postoperative scar widening were found in the arm and leg areas (P<0.05). Conclusions The anchoring method introduced in this study can provide much better outcomes than the conventional method. The anchoring method is particularly useful for the removal of CMN around the joints or extremities, where the surgical site is subjected to high tension.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of berberine on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We searched seven electronic databases for studies through October 2022. All randomized controlled trials (RTCs) of berberine were included. Data extraction and risk of bias assessments were performed by two independent reviewers. The RevMan 5.4.1 program was used for meta-analysis. Results: A total of 279 relevant studies were identified, and 6 eligible RCTs were included to study the efficacy berberine on NAFLD. The six selected trials are studies on the effect between berberine and conventional treatment combined treatment versus conventional treatment. Liver function tests, blood lipid levels, and blood glucose levels were assessed. Combination treatment with berberine, ursodeoxycholate acid, metformin, and monascus purpureus showed statistically significant improvements in liver function levels, blood lipid levels, and blood glucose levels compared to conventional treatment alone. However, there was no significant efficacy of berberine combination dietary, exercise than control group on NAFLD. The meta-analysis results of examining 4 RCTs comparing the therapeutic efficacy of berberine showed statistically significant improvement in the liver function test, blood lipids levels, blood glucose levels. Conclusions: This study suggests that berberine has positive efficacy on blood lipids, blood glucose liver function, fatty liver condition of NAFLD. However, the level of evidence is low because of small effect size,so further investigation is needed.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.183-191
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• 2001

Objective: To document the signal characteristics of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at evolving stages on diffusion-weighted images (DWI) by comparison with conventional MR images. Materials and Methods: In our retrospective study, 38 patients with ICH underwent a set of imaging sequences that included DWI, T1-and T2-weighted imaging, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). In 33 and 10 patients, respectively, conventional and echo-planar T2^* gradient-echo images were also obtained. According to the time interval between symptom onset and initial MRI, five stages were categorized: hyperacute (n=6); acute (n=7); early subacute (n=7); late subacute (n=10); and chronic (n=8). We investigated the signal intensity and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of ICH and compared the signal intensities of hematomas at DWI and on conventional MR images. Results: DWI showed that hematomas were hyperintense at the hyperacute and late subacute stages, and hypointense at the acute, early subacute and chronic stages. Invariably, focal hypointensity was observed within a hyperacute hematoma. At the hyperacute, acute and early subacute stages, hyperintense rims that corresponded with edema surrounding the hematoma were present. The mean ADC ratio was 0.73 at the hyperacute stage, 0.72 at the acute stage, 0.70 at the early subacute stage, 0.72 at the late subacute stage, and 2.56 at the chronic stage. Conclusion: DWI showed that the signal intensity of an ICH may be related to both its ADC value and the magnetic susceptibility effect. In patients with acute stroke, an understanding of the characteristic features of ICH seen at DWI can be helpful in both the characterization of intracranial hemorrhagic lesions and the differentiation of hemorrhage from ischemia.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.473-475
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• 2024

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.687-690
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• 2024

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.75-86
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• 2021

Objectives This study aimed to analyze the research trends in clinical studies on the traditional Korean medicine used for cancer treatment between 2011 and 2020. Methods We searched 7 Korean web databases (Research Information Sharing Service [RISS], Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System [OASIS], Koreanstudies Information Service System [KISS], Korean Medical database [KMBASE], DBpia, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information [KISTI], and KoreaMed) and classified collected papers dated between 2011 and 2020 by the year of publication, publication journal, study design, type of cancer affecting the patients, interventions used, evaluation system used, and combination with conventional medicine. Results A total of 167 papers were collected. More than 10 papers were published annually. The papers were mainly published in the Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology (28.7%). The predominant type of the study was case study (67.7%). The main type of cancer was breast cancer, affecting 262 patients. Most of the studies reported using multiple traditional Korean medicine treatments (55.1%). Eighty-nine studies reported using clinical laboratory tests for evaluation. Most of the patients took conventional medicine simultaneously (608 patients). Conclusions Research related to Korean medicine for cancer patients is at a rudimentary level. Therefore, for further clarity, high evidence-based researches, including randomized controlled trials and cohort studies, should be conducted.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.1-19
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the research trends of randomized controlled trials on Traditional Korean Medicine treatment for postpartum depression in women. Methods: In order to investigate the effect of Traditional Korean Medicine on postpartum depression, randomized controlled trials on postpartum depression were searched using domestic and foreign search engines and a total of 11 studies were selected. Results: 1. There were 6 studies comparing Traditional Korean Medicine treatment methods with western medicine: fluoxetine hydrochloride (4), paroxetine (1), and mirazapine (1). 2. There were 5 studies comparing methods of Traditional Korean Medicine or sham acupuncture: 1 study evaluated the efficacy of Balance Acupuncture and Guipi Decoction, 1 study compared the effects of conventional acupuncture and Dispersing Liver Regulating Spirit Acupuncture, 1 study evaluated the efficacy of acupuncture and Heat-sensitive Moxibustion, 1 study compared the effects of conventional acupuncture and Musical Electroacupuncture, and 1 study compared the effects of conventional acupuncture and non-invasive sham acupuncture. 3. Postpartum depression is closely related to Heart and Liver, and there were many studies using acupoints Taichong (LR3) and Shenmen (HE7). Cranial acupoints Baihui (DU20) and Yintang (EX-HN3) were also frequently used. 4. Xiaoyaosan and Guipi Decoction were used in herbal medicine treatment for postpartum depression. 5. Novel treatment methods such as Heat-sensitive Moxibustion and Musical Electroacupuncture were used to treat postpartum depression. Conclusion: Traditional Korean Medicine treatment is a good treatment option for postpartum depression. Further systematic studies are needed to establish the basis for Traditional Korean Medicine treatment for postpartum depression.