• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.440-449
• /
• 2023

Background: This study aimed to analyze the prehospital process and reperfusion therapy process of acute ischemic stroke in Busan metropolitan area and examine the impact of living arrangement on the early management and functional outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: The patients who diagnosed with AIS and received reperfusion therapy at the Busan Regional Cardiovascular Center between September 2020 and May 2023 were selected. We investigated the patients' hospital arrival time (onset to door time) and utilization of 119 emergency ambulance services. Additionally, various time matrices related to reperfusion therapy after hospital were examined, along with the functional outcome at the 90-day after treatment. Results: Among the 753 AIS patients who underwent reperfusion therapy, 166 individuals (22.1%) were living alone. AIS patients living alone experienced significant delays in symptom detection (p<0.05) and hospital arrival compared to AIS patients with cohabitants (370.1 minutes vs. 210.2 minutes, p<0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of 119 ambulance utilization and time metrics related with the reperfusion therapy. Independent predictors of prognosis in AIS patients were found to be age above 70, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission, tissue plasminogen activator, living alone (odds ratio [OR], 1.785; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.155-2.760) and interhospital transfer (OR, 1.898; 95% CI, 1.152-3.127). Delay in identification of AIS was shown significant correlation (OR, 2.440; 95% CI, 1.070-5.561) at living alone patients. Conclusion: This study revealed that AIS patients living alone in the Busan metropolitan region, requiring endovascular treatment, face challenges in the pre-hospital phase, which significantly impact their prognosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.265-290
• /
• 2023

Rare but serious thrombotic incidents in relation to thrombocytopenia, termed vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), have been observed since the vaccine rollout, particularly among replication-defective adenoviral vector-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccine recipients. Herein, we comprehensively reviewed and summarized reported studies of VITT following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination to determine its prevalence, clinical characteristics, as well as its management. A literature search up to October 1, 2021 using PubMed and SCOPUS identified a combined total of 720 articles. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guideline, after screening the titles and abstracts based on the eligibility criteria, the remaining 47 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 29 studies were included. Findings revealed that VITT cases are strongly related to viral vector-based vaccines, which are the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (95%) and the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (4%), with much rarer reports involving messenger RNA-based vaccines such as the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (0.2%) and the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (0.2%). The most severe manifestation of VITT is cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with 317 cases (70.4%) and the earliest primary symptom in the majority of cases is headache. Intravenous immunoglobulin and non-heparin anticoagulant are the main therapeutic options for managing immune responses and thrombosis, respectively. As there is emerging knowledge on and refinement of the published guidelines regarding VITT, this review may assist the medical communities in early VITT recognition, understanding the clinical presentations, diagnostic criteria as well as its management, offering a window of opportunity to VITT patients. Further larger sample size trials could further elucidate the link and safety profile.

• Design & Manufacturing
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2024

Macular degeneration is a disease that damages the macula, the center of the retina, and is one of the three major eye diseases along with glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. The optic nerve and most of the photoreceptor cells are located here, and since this is where images of objects are formed, it is the most important area for vision. The main symptom of macular degeneration is the inability to clearly distinguish the shape of objects or the inability to distinguish colors and light and dark. It is also a serious eye disease that causes black spots in the center of the field of vision. However, it is difficult to distinguish it from the form of vision loss due to presbyopia, so early diagnosis is often missed. The most common treatment for macular degeneration is antibody injection therapy. This treatment requires regular injections once every 1-2 months. When receiving antibody injection therapy, the fear of having to inject directly into the eye and the cost of long-term repeated procedures are a great burden to patients. To overcome these problems, special sustained-release formulations using drug delivery systems are being developed. Since the release speed and release time of the drug can be controlled, the number of times the drug is administered can be drastically reduced. However, the implant (Ø 0.46×6.0mm), which is a sustained-release agent, is manufactured by mixing biodegradable resin (PLGA) and therapeutic agent in a ratio of 4:6, so it is very brittle and there is a high risk of implant damage during handling. In order to safely insert the implant into the eye, a transport device that can be driven with controlled force is required. Therefore, in this study, the lever operating force was measured and analyzed to determine the influence of factors according to the cross-sectional thickness and shape of the linkage produced through injection molding as well as the post-process.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.71-80
• /
• 2013

Objectives: Outbreaks of pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) occur every 3-4 years in Korea, most recently in 2011. The aim of our study was to determine the optimal time to perform indirect particle agglutination antibody assays to improve early diagnosis of MP pneumonia in children. Methods: A database of 206 pediatric patients treated for pneumonia at the Hanyang University Hospital from June to October 2011 was analyzed retrospectively for demographic characteristics and laboratory test results. Results: Among the 206 patients treated for pneumonia during the study period, there were 160 children (mean age, 5.44 years) diagnosed with MP pneumonia, who were studied further. The mean age of these MP pneumonia patients was 5.44 years. Antibody titers increased with increasing time between symptom onset and the collection of serum collection: MP titers were <1:640 for sera collected after 5.44 days and titers ${\geq}1:640$ for those collected after 8.58 days; P<0.001). Antibody titers were considered positive when they reached ${\geq}1:640$. In 42 MP pneumonia patients in whom there was a four-fold or greater increase in titer between successive serum samples, the optimal cut-off time-point for distinguishing between the initial and second titer groups was 7.5 days after the onset of symptoms (sensitivity, 90.5%; specificity, 92.9%). Conclusions: Negative MP antibody titers earlier than 8 days after the onset of symptoms in children with pneumonia may require repeating to confirm the diagnosis. This finding could optimize diagnosis and result in better therapeutic outcomes of MP pneumonia in children.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.55-59
• /
• 2005

Purpose: To evaluate the drainage effect of silk suture material following aspiration of the bursa as an early treatment of chronic prepatellar bursitis. Materials and Methods: Twelve cases, which have over two weeks of history and over one year of follow-up, were investigated. The average duration of follow-up was 18.3 months. The average symptom duration before introduction into this study was 2.2 months. With an aseptic technique, the aspiration of the bursa was done with spinal needle or injection needle and syringe and then the insertion of silk suture material through the aspiration needle was performed. Over one year follow-up, recurrence, infection, pain, and limitation of range of motion were investigated by telephone interview. Results: Redness around the insertion site of silk suture material was found in all cases, but there was no development of active infection in eleven cases. At five days after procedure, a supprative infection was developed in one case. The results were considered satisfactory in 92% of cases and the average duration of treatment is 14.5 days. Conclusion: The drainage with silk suture material following aspiration of the bursa is effective and less invasive method in the early treatment of chronic prepatellar bursitis.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.60-72
• /
• 1995

Temporomandibular joint ankylosis is the movemental obstacle of mandible which depend on proliferation of bony or fibrous tissue in temporomandibular joint structure by various causes. In order to treat this, various surgical methods have been performed, but no operative methods have been produced consistently successful results. This research has been performed to the patients who had been operated due to temporomandibular joint ankylosis by studying classification, cause, onset, duration, anesthesia and treatment method, symptom, change of mouth opening, complication through medical record, X-ray, follow-up for being a help to proper selection of treatment method and evaluation of prognosis. The author obtained the following results by analyzing 44 cases among patients who had been operated due to temporomandibular joint ankylosis during 8 year hospitalization from 1986 to 1993 in Dept. of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Seoul National University Hospital. 1. The occurrence was in the order of below 10, 20's, 10's, 30's. The average of occurrence was 12.95. Illness period was 50.0% within 10 years and 50% beyond 10 years. The average period of illness was 13.33 years. 2. Trauma occupied 54.5% of causes and inflammation occupied 45.5%. Men had more occurrences due to trauma and there was no difference in case of inflammation. 3. In nasotracheal intubations for general anesthesia, the cases of using fiberoptic laryngoscope occupied 40.9%, direct or blind nasotracheal intubation occupied 40.9% and the cases of using tracheostomy occupied 18.2%. 4. In operative approaching methods, submandibular & preauricular approach were mainly applied, and in operative methods, high condylectomy(Group I) occupied 11.4%, arthroplasty without interpositional material following condylectomy or gap ostectomy(Group II) occupied 11.4%, with interpositional material following high condylectomy (Group III) occupied 40.9%, and using condylar reconstruction following condylectomy or gap ostectomy(Group IV) occupied 36.6%. 5. In change of mouth opening reformed after surgery, Group III showed the best result of average 23.5mm, Group IV showed 16.3mm, Group I showed 14.9mm and Group II showed 10.2mm of reformation. Summarizing the results as written above, it is considered that early treatment is important as soon as possible in Temporomandibular joint ankylosis. It is recommended in surgical method what can lead to postoperative early movement maintaining anatomaical & functional form, and then the development of various surgical methods will be requested.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.118-133
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Exercise intervention after surgery has been found to improve physical fitness and quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and effects of a postoperative recovery exercise program developed specifically for gastric cancer patients (PREP-GC) undergoing minimally invasive gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four patients treated surgically for early gastric cancer were enrolled in the PREP-GC. The exercise program comprised sessions of In-hospital Exercise (1 week), Home Exercise (1 week), and Fitness Improvement Exercise (8 weeks). Adherence and compliance to PREP-GC were evaluated. In addition, body composition, physical fitness, and QOL were assessed during the preoperative period, after the postoperative recovery (2 weeks after surgery), and upon completing the PREP-GC (10 weeks after surgery). Results: Of the 24 enrolled patients, 20 completed the study without any adverse events related to the PREP-GC. Adherence and compliance rates to the Fitness Improvement Exercise were 79.4% and 99.4%, respectively. Upon completing the PREP-GC, patients also exhibited restored cardiopulmonary function and muscular strength, with improved muscular endurance and flexibility (P<0.05). Compared to those in the preoperative period, no differences were found in symptom scale scores measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Stomach Cancer-Specific Module (QLQ-STO22); however, higher scores for global health status and emotional functioning were observed after completing the PREP-GC (P<0.05). Conclusions: In gastric cancer patients undergoing minimally invasive gastrectomy, PREP-GC was found to be feasible and safe, with high adherence and compliance. Although randomized studies evaluating the benefits of exercise intervention during postoperative recovery are needed, surgeons should encourage patients to participate in systematic exercise intervention programs in the early postoperative period (Registered at the ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01751880).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.167-172
• /
• 2007

Objective: The purpose of this study is to find out the differences of clinical characteristics of endometriosis and to emphasize the significance of early diagnosis of endometriosis to protect disease progression in adolescents. Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out. All cases (n=130) were diagnosed surgically as endometriosis between January 2000 and August 2007 in two university hospitals in Daegu. Adolescents were 23 cases and unmarried young women were 107 cases. Data were collected through review of medical records. Results: The predominant symptom in adolescents was cyclic pain. 52.2% of adolescent patients were stage I or II. And stage III was 47.8% but stage IV was none. The other side 82.2% of unmarried young women patients were stage II or III and stage IV was 15.8%. Serum CA-125 level was elevated in adolescents, also. But there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions: Endometriosis is progressive disease. Early diagnosis is necessary for prevention of the disease progression and free from pain. Appropriate gynecologic examination and careful concerns about adolescents are mandatory.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.17
• /
• pp.7467-7472
• /
• 2015

Background: Breast cancer is known to be one of the most prevalent cancers among women in both developing and developed countries. The incidence of breast cancer in Pakistan has increased dramatically within the last few years and is the second country after Israel in Asia to have highest proportional cases of breast cancer. However, there are limited data for breast cancer available in the literature from Pakistan. Objectives: The study was conducted to bring to light the common clinical presentation of breast cancer and to evaluate the frequency of established risk factors in breast carcinoma patients and furthermore to compare the findings between premenopausal and postmenopausal women in Pakistan. Materials and Methods: A 6 months (from July 2012 to Dec 2012) cross sectional survey was conducted in Surgical and Oncology Units of Civil Hospital, Karachi. Data were collected though a well developed questionnaire from 105 female patients diagnosed with carcinoma of breast and analyzed using SPSS version 17. Institutional ethical approval was obtained prior to data collection. Results: Out of 105 patients, 43 were premenopausal and 62 were postmenopausal, 99 being married. Mean age at diagnosis was $47.8{\pm}12.4years$. A painless lump was the most frequent symptom, notived by 77.1%(n=81). Some 55.2% (n=58) patients had a lump in the right breast and 44.8%(n=47) in the left breast. In the majority of cases, the lump was present in upper outer quadrant 41.9% (n=44). Mean period of delay from appearance of symptoms to consulting a doctor was $5.13{\pm}4.8months$, from the shortest 1 month to the longest 36 months. Long delay (> 3 months) was the most frequent figure 41.9%. Considering overall risk factors most frequent were first pregnancy after 20 years of age (41%), physical breast trauma (28.6%), lack of breast feeding(21.9%), and early menarche <11 years (19%), followed by null parity (16.2%), consumption of high fat diet (15.2%), family history of breast cancer or any other cancer in first degree relatives (9.5% and 13.3%, respectively). Some of the less common factors were late menopause >54 years (8.6%), use of oral contraceptive pills (10.5%), use of hormone replacement therapy (4.7%),smoking (4.7%) and radiation (0.96%). Significant differences (p<0.005) were observed between pre and post menopausal women regarding history of physical breast trauma, practice of breast feeding and parity. Conclusions: A painless lump was the most frequent clinical presentation noted. Overall age at first child > 20 years, physical breast trauma, lack of breast feeding, early menarche <11 were the most frequent risk factors. Physical breast trauma, lower parity, a trend for less breast feeding had more significant associations with pre-menopausal than post-menopausal onset. Increase opportunity of disease prevention can be obtained through better understanding of clinical presentation and risk factors important in the etiology of breast cancer.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.191-199
• /
• 2017

Background: This study was conducted to provide a comparison between the clinical outcomes of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and that of fibrinolysis followed by routine invasive treatment in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: A total of 184 consecutive STEMI patients who underwent primary PCI or fibrinolysis followed by a routine invasive therapy were enrolled from 2004 to 2011, and their major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were compared. Results: Among the 184 patients, 146 patients received primary PCI and 38 patients received fibrinolysis. The baseline clinical characteristics were similar between both groups, except for triglyceride level ($68.1{\pm}66.62$ vs. $141.6{\pm}154.3mg/dL$, p=0.007) and high density lipoprotein level ($44.6{\pm}10.3$ vs. $39.5{\pm}8.1mg/dL$, p=0.005). The initial creatine kinase-MB level was higher in the primary PCI group ($71.5{\pm}114.2$ vs. $35.9{\pm}59.9ng/mL$, p=0.010). The proportion of pre-thrombolysis in MI 0 to 2 flow lesions (92.9% vs. 73.0%, p<0.001) was higher and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors were administered more frequently in the primary PCI group. There was no difference in the 12-month clinical outcomes, including all-cause mortality (9.9% vs. 8.8%, p=0.896), cardiac death (7.8% vs. 5.9%, p=0.845), non-fatal MI (1.4% vs. 2.9%, p=0.539), target lesion revascularization (5.7% vs. 2.9%, p=0.517), and stroke (0% vs. 0%). The MACEs free survival rate was similar for both groups (odds ratio, 0.792; 95% confidence interval, 0.317-1.980; p=0.618). The clinical outcome of thrombolysis was not inferior, even when compared with primary PCI performed within 90 minutes. Conclusion: Early fibrinolysis with optimal antiplatelet and antithrombotic therapy followed by appropriate invasive procedure would be a comparable alternative to treatment of MI, especially in cases of shorter-symptom-to-door time.