• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제24권10호
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• pp.1006-1016
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• 2023

Objective: Computed tomography (CT) is an established method for the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of multiple myeloma. Here, we investigated the potential of photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) in terms of image quality, diagnostic confidence, and radiation dose compared with energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT). Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, patients with known multiple myeloma underwent clinically indicated whole-body PCD-CT. The image quality of PCD-CT was assessed qualitatively by three independent radiologists for overall image quality, edge sharpness, image noise, lesion conspicuity, and diagnostic confidence using a 5-point Likert scale (5 = excellent), and quantitatively for signal homogeneity using the coefficient of variation (CV) of Hounsfield Units (HU) values and modulation transfer function (MTF) via the full width at half maximum (FWHM) in the frequency space. The results were compared with those of the current clinical standard EID-CT protocols as controls. Additionally, the radiation dose (CTDIvol) was determined. Results: We enrolled 35 patients with multiple myeloma (mean age 69.8 ± 9.1 years; 18 [51%] males). Qualitative image analysis revealed superior scores (median [interquartile range]) for PCD-CT regarding overall image quality (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]), edge sharpness (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]), image noise (4.0 [4.0-4.0] vs. 3.0 [3.0-4.0]), lesion conspicuity (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]), and diagnostic confidence (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]) compared with EID-CT (P ≤ 0.004). In quantitative image analyses, PCD-CT compared with EID-CT revealed a substantially lower FWHM (2.89 vs. 25.68 cy/pixel) and a significantly more homogeneous signal (mean CV ± standard deviation [SD], 0.99 ± 0.65 vs. 1.66 ± 0.5; P < 0.001) at a significantly lower radiation dose (mean CTDIvol ± SD, 3.33 ± 0.82 vs. 7.19 ± 3.57 mGy; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Whole-body PCD-CT provides significantly higher subjective and objective image quality at significantly reduced radiation doses than the current clinical standard EID-CT protocols, along with readily available multi-spectral data, facilitating the potential for further advanced post-processing.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.1-2
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• 2010

Chronic non-specific low back pain (CLBP) is one of the major health problems casting substantial amount of economic expenses and negative impact on quality of life onto an individual as well as society. On contrary to public familiarity, the ways of management of CLBP are diverse and there is yet no general consensus about which approach is better than others or to whom the specific management should be applied. Some hold the negative point of view on the efficacy of the invasive maneuver such as epidural injection because there is no controlled clinical trial (RCT) yielding better long term outcome of those invasive managements over conservative ones. But the experts of interventional or surgical treatment stress the methodological difficulty in performing RCT and assert that those invasive treatments can bring the prompt and complete resolution of low back pain and restoration of function in appropriately selected cases. These seemingly opposite views on the invasive management on CLBP are rather complimentary each other than to be contradictory.

• 대한기관식도과학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.8-13
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• 2008

Malignant esophagorespiratory fistula is a devastating and life-threatening complication of esophageal and bronchogenic carcinomas. As a non-surgical treatment, peroral stent placement into the esophagus or airway can close-off the fistula and prevent progression of the pneumonia. Although reopening of the fistula is not uncommon despite stent placement, interventional treatment is effective for sealing off reopened ERFs. Bronchopleural fistula is a well-recognized complication of pneumonectomy. There have been several reports to occlude the fistula with use of stents and much more experience is required.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.1191-1196
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• 2015

Background: Epidermal growth factor-like domain multiple 7 (EGFL7), recently identified as a secreted protein regulated by oxygen exposure, plays a critical role in promoting metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is widely used for treatment of HCC, resulting in hypoxia in tumors and surrounding liver tissues. Accordingly, we proposed the hypothesis that there could be a relationship between expression of EGFL7 and response to TAE. Materials and Methods: We established a rabbit VX2 liver tumor model using percutaneous puncture technique guided by computed tomography. TAE and sham embolization were performed and the results were confirmed by MRI 3 weeks after inoculation. We investigated the EGFL7 expression of the two groups at 6h and 3 days after intervention by means of immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results: Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that the levels of EGFL7 protein significantly increased in the TAE-treated tumors compared with the control group at 6 hours (P=0.031) and 3 days (P=0.020) after intervention. Meanwhile, the relative EGFL7 protein detected in TAE group also up-regulated compared with the control group at 6 hours (P=0.020) and 3 days (P=0.024) after intervention. Conclusions: This study reveals an increase of EGFL7 expression in rabbit VX2 liver tumors after TAE. The role of EGFL7 in HCC, especially its biological behavior after TAE, needs further investigation.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.939-946
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• 2019

Objective: To report our initial experience of percutaneous sacroplasty (PSP) with an interpedicular approach for treating painful sacral metastases involving multiple sacral vertebral bodies. Materials and Methods: This study prospectively enrolled 10 consecutive patients (six men and four women; mean age, 56.3 ± 13.8 years) who underwent PSP for painful sacral metastases involving multiple sacral vertebral bodies from March 2017 to September 2018. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry disability index (ODI) values, and the number of opioids prescribed to the patients were assessed before and after PSP. The procedure duration, length of hospitalization, and complications were also recorded. Results: Mean VAS and ODI declined significantly from 6.90 ± 1.20 and 74.40 ± 5.48 before the procedure to 2.70 ± 1.34 and 29.60 ± 14.57 after the procedure, respectively (p < 0.01). The median number of opioids prescribed per patient decreased from 2 (interquartile range [IQR] 1-3) pre-procedure to 1 (IQR 0-3) post-procedure (p < 0.01). Nine of the 10 patients showed no or decreased opioid usage, and only 1 patient showed unchanged usage. The mean procedure duration was 48.5 ± 3.0 minutes. The average length of hospitalization was 4.7 ± 1.7 days. Extraosseous cement leakage occurred in three cases without causing any clinical complications. Conclusion: PSP with an interpedicular approach is a safe and effective treatment in patients with painful sacral metastases involving multiple sacral vertebral bodies and can relieve pain and improve mobility.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.100-106
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• 2023

Background/Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has become an essential diagnostic and therapeutic tool. EUS was introduced in 2013 in Indonesia and is considered relatively new. This study aimed to describe the current role of interventional EUS at our hospital as a part of the Indonesian tertiary health center experience. Methods: This retrospective study included all patients who underwent interventional EUS (n=94) at our center between January 2015 and December 2020. Patient characteristics, technical success, clinical success, and adverse events associated with each type of interventional EUS procedure were evaluated. Results: Altogether, 94 interventional EUS procedures were performed at our center between 2015 and 2020 including 75 cases of EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD), 14 cases of EUS-guided pancreatic fluid drainage, and 5 cases of EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis. The technical and clinical success rates of EUS-BD were 98.6% and 52%, respectively. The technical success rate was 100% for both EUS-guided pancreatic fluid drainage and EUS-guided celiac plexus neurolysis. The adverse event rates were 10.6% and 7.1% for EUS-BD and EUS-guided pancreatic fluid drainage, respectively. Conclusions: EUS is an effective and safe tool for the treatment of gastrointestinal and biliary diseases. It has a low rate of adverse events, even in developing countries.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.368-373
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• 2013

Background: Bertolotti's syndrome (BS), a form of lumbago in lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, is an important cause of low back pain in young patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the etiology of low back pain and the efficacy of treatment offered to patients with BS. Methods: All patients of BS Castellvi type1a during a period of 6 months were enrolled in the study. The patients underwent interventional pain procedures for diagnosis and pain relief. Response to the therapy was assessed based on VAS and ODI scores. A 50% decrease in VAS score or a VAS score less than 3 would be considered adequate pain relief. Results: All 20 patients diagnosed with BS during the 6-month observation period had scoliosis. Common causes of back pain were the ipsilateral L5-S1 facet joint, neoarticulation, the SI joint, and disc degeneration. Responses to various interventions for pain relief were different and inconsistent from patient to patient. In particular, responses to interventions for neoarticular pain were generally poor. Conclusions: Pain in patients with BS does not usually respond to interventional pain treatment. A very dynamic treatment approach must be pursued while managing BS patients, and the treatment plan must be individualized at various stages in order to obtain satisfactory pain relief.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제29권2호
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• pp.129-135
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• 2016

Although discal cysts are a rare cause of low back pain and radiculopathy. Currently, surgical excision is usually the first-line treatment for discal cysts. However, alternative treatment methods have been suggested, as in some cases symptoms have improved with interventional therapies. A 27-year-old man presented with an acute onset of severe pain, and was found to have a discal cyst after an open discectomy. The patient underwent cyst aspiration and steroid injection through the facet joint under C-arm guidance. After the procedure, the patient's pain improved to NRS 0-1. On outpatient physical examination 1 week, and 1 and 3 months later, no abnormal neurological symptoms were present, and pain did not persist; thus, follow-up observation was terminated. When a discal cyst is diagnosed, it is more appropriate to consider interventional management instead of surgery as a first-line treatment, while planning for surgical resection if the symptoms do not improve or accompanying neurologic deficits progress.

• 대한정형외과학회지
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.9-17
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• 2019

인구 구조의 고령화로 인하여 일반적인 척추 질환과는 구분되는 고령 환자에서 특징적인 척추 질환이 호발하는 추세이다. 하지만 고령의 척추 환자는 대부분 내과적 질환을 동반하기 때문에 전신 상태가 불량한 경우가 많고 골다공증을 동반하며 보다 넓은 범위에 걸친 심한 퇴행성 변화를 보이기도 하고 치료에 대한 효율성이 떨어지는 측면이 있어서 고령 척추 환자에 특화된 비수술 치료의 정립이 필요하다. 이에 저자는 노인성 척추 질환 중 문제가 될 만한 주제를 선별하고 각각의 경우에 적용 가능한 중재적 비수술 치료 방법에 대하여 살펴보고자 하였다.

• 대한한방소아과학회지
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.1-18
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• 2022

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of interventional clinical trial registration for children with precocious puberty and to secure basic data for the design of clinical trials for traditional Korean medicine treatment of precocious puberty. Methods The following resources were used to search for data: Clinicaltrial.gov, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP), and Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS), using the search terms, 'Precocious puberty', 'child'. All clinical trials which were registered as of June 2022 were used. Results For the intervention and clinical trial design, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analog was reported in 41.7% of trials, and single group assignment was performed in 66.7% of the studies. Prior consent had not been reported in 50% of the studies. Tanner stage and GnRH stimulation tests were reported by multiple trials as inclusion criteria, and prior treatment experiences for trial drugs were reported as exclusion criteria. The peak serum concentration of luteinizing hormone following GnRH stimulation test was used as a primary outcome in 45.8% of clinical trials, and other growth-related indicators such as growth rate, height, and predicted adult height were also reported. Conclusions In consideration of the design, eligibility criteria, and outcome measurement of the existing clinical trials identified in this study, it should be referred to in the design of clinical trials for traditional Korean medicine treatment of precocious puberty.