• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2009

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a major cause of blindness that affects premature infants. With advances in neonatology, ROP is likely to emerge as the most serious problem of vision loss in children even in developed countries; such a situation could be called the third epidemic of ROP. However, controversy and uncertainty still surround favorable outcomes of ROP. For successfully controlling ROP, timely and accurate screening is crucial because early treatment leads to favorable outcomes. Standard guidelines, including ROP classification, have provided satisfactory instructions for the screening and treatment of ROP. To improve the structural and functional outcomes of ROP, optimizing the timing of surgical interventions including cryotherapy, laser-photocoagulation, encircling, and vitrectomy is essential; these interventions can prevent the sequelae of ROP. It is essential for the neonatologist and the ophthalmologist to cooperate extensively for the successful treatment of ROP.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.112-120
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• 2022

Background: The prognostic factors for patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears (RCTs) include tear size, muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration. However, the influence of early coexisting degenerative changes on RCT outcomes is unappreciated. The purpose of this study was to calculate the impact that pre-existing partial glenohumeral cartilaginous changes have on patients undergoing arthroscopic RCT repair. Methods: A study of 54 patients undergoing arthroscopic RCT repair was undertaken. The presence of co-existing patches of glenohumeral degenerative cartilaginous changes and RCT size was recorded at surgery. Pre- and postoperative outcomes were assessed using traditional (Oxford Shoulder Score [OSS], 5-level EuroQol-5D [EQ-5D-5L] questionnaire and EuroQol visual analog scale [EQ-VAS]) and patient-centric re-formatted prisms. Outcomes were assessed as an entire dataset, and sub-group analysis was performed according to the grade of co-existing arthritis and tear size. Results: Significant improvements (p<0.05) in clinical outcomes were recognized when assessed using either the traditional or reformatted prisms (average % improvements in OSS, EQ-5D-5L and EQ-VAS were 47%, 33% and 43%, respectively; average improvements in pain, function, and psychological well-being were 48%, 33% and, 29%, respectively). Positive gain was noted in all sub-groups of arthritic grading and tear size. Conclusions: Good clinical outcomes can be achieved following RCT repair even in the presence of local partial degenerative cartilage changes and advancing tear size. These benefits are patient-centered but require RCT repairability.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2019

Early leaves within the Viola albida complex were investigated by scanning electron microscopy in order to determine the morphological segments during morphogenesis. The early leaf development of V. albida var. albida could be morphologically divided into the eight stages in the following order: I, the initiation of shoot germination; II, the conical growth directionally of the leaf; III, the adaxial and abaxial formation of the leaf; IV, the initiation of the stipule; V, the formation of a transitional zone between the leaf blade and petiole; VI, the expansion of the upper part of the leaf blade; VII, the formation of almost all parts of the early leaf; VIII, the early simple leaf. Viola albida var. takahashii differs from V. albida var. albida by additional stages, i.e., V-1, the initiation of the first lateral lobe at the both lateral parts of the leaf after the stage V and an early lobed leaf. Viola albida var. chaerophylloides is also distinguished from two taxa by two developmental features, V-2, the initiation of a second lateral lobe below of the first lateral lobe, and an early palmately compound leaf. These findings suggest that the Viola albida complex would be in the process of peramorphosis, showing developmental changes in a chain of events, leading to a different leaf shape. These data would also be useful for isolating genes that give rise to different leaf morphogenesis outcomes among the taxa in the Viola albida complex.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.11
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• pp.459-464
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• 2013

Improving mental health and reducing the burden of mental illness are complementary strategies which, along with the treatment and rehabilitation of people with mental disorders, significantly improve population health and well-being. A Institute of Medicine report describes a range of interventions for mental disorders that included treatment and maintenance, reserving the term "prevention" for efforts that occur before onset of a diagnosable disorder. Mental health problems affect 10-20% of children and adolescents worldwide. Despite their relevance as a leading cause of health-related disability and their long lasting consequences, the mental health needs of children and adolescents are neglected. Early intervention can help reduce the significant impacts that children and adolescents with serious mental health problems may experience. Screening is the first step in early intervention, recognizing emotional and behavioral problems and providing help at an early stage. It is essential to implement early intervention in a sensitive and ethical manner to avoid any of the negative outcomes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.12
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• pp.375-380
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• 2018

With the increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity worldwide, early adiposity rebound, which is known to have a strong association with obesity, has recently been a focus of research. Early adiposity rebound is conventionally known to have a close relationship with non-communicable diseases. However, novel insights into early adiposity rebound have implied an acceleration of growth and puberty, which is directly reflected in the trends in the timing of adiposity rebound, in the 21st century compared with in the past. Furthermore, the observation that lean mass changes rather than fat mass changes show a more similar pattern to body mass index trajectories is interesting. In this article, the later outcomes and risk factors of early adiposity rebound are briefly summarized, and the current trends in the timing of adiposity rebound and novel insights into its relationship with body composition are reviewed.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.496-512
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• 2022

For almost 20 years, data regarding the effect of rhythm control therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF) on cardiovascular prognosis in comparison with rate control therapy has not been conclusive. The safety of rhythm control and anticoagulation therapy has generally improved. Recently, it was revealed that a rhythm-control strategy reduced the risk of adverse cardiovascular events than usual rate control in patients with recent AF (diagnosed within 1 year). Within 1 year after the AF diagnosis, early initiation of rhythm control led to more favorable cardiovascular outcomes than rate control. Early rhythm control reduced the risks of stroke and heart failure-related admission than rate control. Moreover, rhythm control was associated with lower dementia risk than rate control. Finally, early rhythm control treatment was also effective in patients with asymptomatic AF but less effective in older adults. Therefore, in patients with AF, rhythm control should be considered at earlier stages, regardless of symptom.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.72-78
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• 2012

Purpose: Clinical observation and research findings show that acute traumatic coagulopathy (ATC) is a major factor that must be addressed in the early care of severe trauma patients. ATC is associated with increased transfusion requirements and poor clinical outcomes. This study aimed to correlate the early predictable factors of ATC with the outcomes in severe trauma patients. Methods: Retrospective data from the trauma registry on severe trauma patients (Injury Severity Score (ISS) ${\geq}16$) were used to identify variables independently associated with coagulopathy. Univariate associations were calculated, and a multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine variables independently associated with ATC. Results: Patients were mostly male, aged $51.9{\pm}17.8$ years, with an injury severity score of $24.1{\pm}12.4$. ATC, as diagnosed in the emergency department (ED), occurred in 17% of the severe trauma patients. Using a multivariable logistic regression analysis, early predictable variables independently associated with ATC were base deficit (odds ratio (OR): 13.03; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.47-48.93), acute liver injury (OR: 4.24; 95% CI: 1.06-17.00), and transfer from another hospital (OR: 21.00; 95% CI: 3.23-136.60). Conclusion: ATC is associated with mortality in severe trauma patients, and some variables associated with trauma and shock are an independent predictors of ATC. These variables contribute to the early recognition and management of coagulopathy, which may improve the outcome from trauma resuscitation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.171-176
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• 2016

Background: A previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may affect the outcomes of patients who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The objective of this study was to compare the early in-hospital postoperative outcomes between patients who underwent CABG with or without previous PCI. Methods: The present study included 160 patients who underwent isolated elective on-pump CABG at the department of cardiothoracic surgery, Minia University Hospital from January 2010 to December 2014. Patients who previously underwent PCI (n=38) were compared to patients who did not (n=122). Preoperative, operative, and early in-hospital postoperative data were analyzed. The end points of the study were in-hospital mortality and postoperative major adverse events. Results: Non-significant differences were found between the study groups regarding preoperative demographic data, risk factors, left ventricular ejection fraction, New York Heart Association class, EuroSCORE, the presence of left main disease, reoperation for bleeding, postoperative acute myocardial infarction, a neurological deficit, need for renal dialysis, hospital stay, and in-hospital mortality. The average time from PCI to CABG was $13.9{\pm}5.4$ years. The previous PCI group exhibited a significantly larger proportion of patients who experienced in-hospital major adverse events (15.8% vs. 2.5%, p=0.002). On multivariate analysis, only previous PCI was found to be a significant predictor of major adverse events (odds ratio, 0.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.03 to 0.71; p=0.01). Conclusion: Previous PCI was found to have a significant effect on the incidence of early major adverse events after CABG. Further large-scale and long-term studies are recommended.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2011

Purpose: Although pancreas injury is rare in abdominal trauma, it poses a challenge to the surgeon because its clinical features are not prominent and the presence of main duct injury cannot be easily identified by imaging studies. Furthermore, severe pancreas injuries require a distal pancreatectomy or a pancreaticoduodnectomy which are associated considerable morbidity and mortality. We reviewed the clinical features of and outcomes for patients with pancreas injury. Methods: For 10 years from Jan. 2001 to Dec. 2010, thirty-four patients were diagnosed as having pancreas injury by using an explo-laparotomy. Patients successfully treated by non-operative management were excluded. Patients were divided into early (n=18) and delayed surgery groups (n=11) based on an interval of 24hours between injury and surgery. The clinical features of and the outcomes for the patients in both groups were compared. Results: Males were more commonly injured (82.4% vs.17.6%). The mean age was 37.2 years. The injury mechanisms included vehicle accidents (62.9%, 22/34), assaults (20%, 7/34), and falls (11.4%, 3/34). The head and neck of the pancreas was most commonly injured, followed by the body and the tail (16, 12, and 6 cases).Of the 34 patients, 26 (76.5%) patients had accompanying injuries. Grade 1 and 2 occurred in 14 (5 and 9) patients, and grade 3, 4, and 5 occurred in 20 (16, 3, and 1) patients. The early and delayed surgery groups showed no difference in surgical outcomes. Two patients with grade 3 in the early surgery group died after surgery,one due to massive hemorrhage and the other due to septic shock. Of the five patients initially managed non-operatively, three developed peripancreatic necrosis and two developed pseudocyst. All five patients were successfully cured by surgery. Conclusion: All cases of pancreas injury in this study involved blunt injury, and accompanying injury to major vessels or the bowel was the major cause of mortality. Surgery delayed for longer than 24 hours after was not associated with adverse outcomes.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.165-170
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• 2016

Background: In elderly high-risk surgical patients, sutureless aortic valve replacement (AVR) should be an alternative to standard AVR. The potential advantages of sutureless aortic prostheses include reducing cross-clamping and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time and facilitating minimally invasive surgery and complex cardiac interventions, while maintaining satisfactory hemodynamic outcomes and low rates of paravalvular leakage. The current study reports our single-center experience regarding the early outcomes of sutureless aortic valve implantation. Methods: Between October 2012 and June 2015, 65 patients scheduled for surgical valve replacement with symptomatic aortic valve disease and New York Heart Association function of class II or higher were included to this study. Perceval S (Sorin Biomedica Cardio Srl, Sallugia, Italy) and Edwards Intuity (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) valves were used. Results: The mean age of the patients was $71.15{\pm}8.60years$. Forty-four patients (67.7%) were female. The average preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction was $56.9{\pm}9.93$. The CPB time was $96.51{\pm}41.27minutes$ and the cross-clamping time was $60.85{\pm}27.08minutes$. The intubation time was $8.95{\pm}4.19hours$, and the intensive care unit and hospital stays were $2.89{\pm}1.42days$ and $7.86{\pm}1.42days$, respectively. The mean quantity of drainage from chest tubes was $407.69{\pm}149.28mL$. The hospital mortality rate was 3.1%. A total of five patients (7.69%) died during follow-up. The mean follow-up time was $687.24{\pm}24.76days$. The one-year survival rate was over 90%. Conclusion: In the last few years, several models of valvular sutureless bioprostheses have been developed. The present study evaluating the single-center early outcomes of sutureless aortic valve implantation presents the results of an innovative surgical technique, finding that it resulted in appropriate hemodynamic conditions with acceptable ischemic time.