• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.49-52
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• 2020

Background: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax is commonly treated with chest tube insertion, which requires hospitalization. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy, costs, and benefits of a portable small-bore chest tube (Thoracic Egg; Sumitomo Bakelite Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) compared with a conventional chest tube. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all primary spontaneous pneumothorax patients who underwent treatment at Gangnam Severance Hospital between August 2014 and May 2018. Results: A total of 279 patients were divided into 2 groups: the conventional group (n=236) and the Thoracic Egg group (n=43). Of the 236 patients in the conventional group, 100 were excluded because they underwent surgery during the study period. The efficacy and cost were compared between the 2 groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding recurrence (conventional group, 36 patients [26.5%]; Thoracic Egg group, 15 patients [29.4%]; p=0.287). However, the Egg group had statistically significantly lower mean medical expenses than the conventional group (433,413 Korean won and 522,146 Korean won, respectively; p<0.001). Conclusion: Although portable small-bore chest tubes may not be significantly more efficacious than conventional chest tubes, their use is significantly less expensive. We believe that the Thoracic Egg catheter could be a less costly alternative to conventional chest tube insertion.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.220-225
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• 2014

A fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) fixed prosthesis is an innovative alternative to a traditional metal restoration, as it is a conservative treatment method. This case report demonstrates a detailed procedure for restoring a missing anterior tooth with an FRC. A 44-year-old woman visited our department with an avulsed tooth that had fallen out on the previous day and was completely dry. This tooth was replanted, but it failed after one year. A semi-direct technique was used to fabricate a FRC fixed partial prosthesis for its replacement. The FRC framework and the pontic were fabricated using a duplicated cast model and nanofilled composite resin. Later on, interproximal contact, tooth shape, and shade were adjusted at chairside. This technique not only enables the clinician to replace a missing tooth immediately after extraction for minimizing esthetic problems, but it also decreases both tooth reduction and cost.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.65-71
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• 2016

Cell-free nucleic acids (cf-NAs) originate in trophoblasts and are detected in the maternal plasma. Using innovative bioinformatic technologies such as next-generation sequencing, cf-NAs in the maternal plasma have been rapidly applied in prenatal genetic screening for fetal aneuploidy. Amniotic fluid is a complex and dynamic fluid that provides growth factors and protection to the fetus. In 2001, the presence of cf-NA in amniotic fluid was reported. Amniotic fluid is in direct contact with the fetus and is derived from fetal urine and maternal and fetal plasma. Therefore, these genetic materials have been suggested to reflect fetal health and provide real-time genetic information regarding fetal development. Recently, several studies evaluated the global gene expression changes of amniotic fluid cell-free RNA according to gestational age. In addition, by analyzing the transcriptome in the amniotic fluid of fetal aneuploidy, potential key pathways and novel biomarkers for fetal chromosomal aneuploidy were identified. Here, we review the current knowledge of cell-free RNA in amniotic fluid and suggest future research directions.

• 한국지역지리학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.287-306
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• 2016

본 논문은 아파트 단지와 신도시 개발로 대변되는 한국의 현대적 도시화를 도시 이데올로기와의 관련성 속에서 설명하려는 것이다. 특히, '강남 만들기(강남의 물리적 건설과 담론적 재현)'와 '강남 따라하기(강남 재현의 도시적 보편화와 강남의 공간적 복제)'라는 이데올로기적 과정이 한국의 도시 중산층들로 하여금 도시를 특정한 방식으로 규정하고 상상하며, 특정한 도시 공간의 모습을 욕망하고 소비하게 만들었고, 이 과정이 현재 한국의 도시화 과정을 형성하는 데 큰 영향을 주었음을 밝히려 하였다. 이를 위해 한국의 대표적인 도시 중산층 거주지 3곳(서울 강남, 성남 분당, 부산 해운대)에서 22명의 도시거주자들을 심층면접하여 그들이 도시를 상상, 재현, 욕망하는 방식을 조사하였다.

• Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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• 제61권11호
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• pp.619-623
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• 2018

Mucosal bridges of vocal fold have been described as a parallel band to vocal folds with the presence of sulcus vocalis. However, the type of mucosal bridge crossing each vocal fold has not been well documented in the literature. Herein, we present two cases of mucosal bridge found in the vocal fold connecting the mid-portions of true vocal folds. Two patients who had no history of laryngeal trauma, surgery or oro-tracheal intubation visited our clinic due to voice change. Laryngoscopic examination revealed that they had a mid-portion mucosal band without any other mucosal lesions. Two patients underwent laryngomicrosurgery with pulsed dye laser. After the surgery, they showed significant improvement of voice quality.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.9-13
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• 2021

Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation and multiplication of a latent varicella-zoster virus infection. Reactivation can frequently occur in older adults and immunosuppressed individuals. It is hypothesized that this is related to an aging society and a corresponding increase in the number of people with underlying chronic diseases, such as cancer and diabetes, that lower immunity. Clinically, the patient complains of pain, and a vesicular rash presents on one side of the face up to the midline in the dermatomes associated with the affected ganglion. Herpes zoster of the oral mucosa is rare. When oral lesions do occur, they are most often concurrent with pathognomonic unilateral linear vesicular skin lesions, facilitating both clinical diagnosis and management of the condition. Cases limited to the oral mucous membrane alone are most unusual. Treatment includes antiviral agents and analgesics for pain control. Antivirals should be administered within 72 hours of onset. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to avoid complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia. The present case report describes the adequate management of a patient diagnosed with shingles which affected the right side of the face and oral cavity. In addition, a literature review is presented.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.389-392
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• 2023

A 14-year-old girl had a midfacial trauma event caused by hitting against an opening door and experienced discomfort and swelling of the columella and upper lip. Physical examination revealed mild tenderness on light palpation without any discomfort with upper lip movement. A computed tomography scan of the maxillofacial bones with three-dimensional reconstruction showed a fracture of the anterior nasal spine with obvious leftward displacement, mild-deviation of the caudal aspect of the nasal septum, and no sign of nasal bone fracture. Open reduction and internal fixation was performed with regard to aesthetic and functional concerns, including nasal septum deviation. The postoperative course was uneventful, and healing proceeded normally without complications. Herein, we emphasize the importance of differential diagnosis of isolated anterior nasal spine fractures in patients with midfacial trauma and clinicians' strategic decision-making in treatment modalities.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.581-597
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• 2022

Left ventricular (LV) wall thickening, or LV hypertrophy (LVH), is common and occurs in diverse conditions including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), hypertensive heart disease, aortic valve stenosis, lysosomal storage disorders, cardiac amyloidosis, mitochondrial cardiomyopathy, sarcoidosis and athlete's heart. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging provides various tissue contrasts and characteristics that reflect histological changes in the myocardium, such as cellular hypertrophy, cardiomyocyte disarray, interstitial fibrosis, extracellular accumulation of insoluble proteins, intracellular accumulation of fat, and intracellular vacuolar changes. Therefore, CMR imaging may be beneficial in establishing a differential diagnosis of LVH. Although various diseases share LV wall thickening as a common feature, the histologic changes that underscore each disease are distinct. This review focuses on CMR multiparametric myocardial analysis, which may provide clues for the differentiation of thickened myocardium based on the histologic features of HCM and its phenocopies.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.85-92
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• 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers and is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Based on the current screening guidelines by the American Cancer Society and Korean multi-society expert committee, CRC screening is recommended in asymptomatic adults starting at the age of 45 years. Fecal immunochemical test-based screening programs reduce the development of CRC and related mortality in the general population. However, this most popular CRC screening strategy demonstrates a crucial limitation due to modest diagnostic accuracy. Colonoscopy may be considered as an alternative primary method for CRC screening; however, its implementation can still be challenging due to concerns regarding invasiveness, low adherence, cost-effectiveness, and quality assurance. To overcome the limitations of current screening tests, innovative noninvasive tests for CRC screening have been developed with advances in molecular biology, genetics, epigenetics, and microbiomics for detecting CRC, which may enhance the approach to CRC screening and diagnosis in clinical practice in the near future. This review explores the emerging screening methods and discusses their potential for integration into current practice.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제35권6호
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• pp.403-410
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• 2009

Those composing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) complex such as the temporal bone, the disc and the mandibular condyle perform their own functions with organic relation. The retrodiscal tissue is the main area of pain induction and contributes to compositional change of synovial fluid. If displacement of the disc lasts long time, not only adaptive changes, but also destructive or degenerative changes may happen. It was reported that these changes and symptoms appear mostly to female rather than male and especially, in the case of patients suffering from TMJ disorder, a large quantity of female sex hormone is found in the joint synovium. And that may play a role in bone resorption and inflammation. Also, the frequency and the intensity of pain perception for female is reported to be much more than for male. In this study, we investigated the expression extents of estrogen receptors (ER) and progesteron receptors (PR) in retrodiscal tissue with immunohistochemistry among the patients received TMJ surgery and compared with MRI findings and surgical findings. We report the relations between the expression of ER in retrodiscal tissue and the pathological change in TMJ, such as inflammation, internal derangement and osteoarthritis.