• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.200-209
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long term outcome and the factors contributing to treatment outcome for chronic functional constipation in children. Methods: Sixty three children were enrolled who had chronic functional constipation and could be followed by telephone contact. They were treated at the Bucheon Soonchunhyang Hospital for more than 1 month and observed from March 2001 to June 2005. We analyzed the clinical features, symptoms and signs, as well as the course and results of treatment. Results: The male to female ratio was 35 (55.6%) : 28 (44.4%). The mean age at the onset of symptoms and diagnosis was $21.1{\pm}23.5$ (1.9~84.0) months and $47.1{\pm}34.2$ (6.9~138.0) months, respectively. The mean defecation frequency before treatment was $3.2{\pm}2.3$ (0.5~10.0) times per week. The symptoms associated with constipation were as follows: soiling 34 (54.0%) which was more common in males than females, large stools in 30 (47.6%), decreased bowel movements less than three times a week in 20 (31.7%), straining during defecation in 19 (30.2%) and retentive posturing 19 (30.2%). The mean duration of follow-up was $34.2{\pm}14.6$ (3.6~60.0) months and 44 (69.8%) patients had their symptoms resolve ("success") and 19 (30.2%) were not resloved ("fail") from the constipation. The time for recovery from soiling, straining during defecation and retentive posturing after treatment was $4.3{\pm}2.4$ (1.0~36.0), $5.0{\pm}1.4$ (0.8~36.0) and $5.0{\pm}3.1$ (1.0~36.0) months, respectively. A relapse of the constipation occurred in 15 (23.8%) patients, 9 (60%) boys and 6 (40%) girls. The time to relapse after cessation of treatment was $2.9{\pm}1.9$ (1.0~6.0) months and the only risk factor associated with relapse was the initial duration of treatment. Conclusion: Most of the patients had resolution of symptoms within five months after treatment; relapse occurred within three months after the interruption of treatment. The duration of treatment was important for recovery and for the prevention of relapse in the constipated children. Thus a long term maintenance of therapy and follow-up is necessary for chronic functional constipation in children.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.322-327
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• 2018

Background: This study evaluated the early and long-term outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in elderly patients in the era of transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Methods: Between 2001 and 2018, 94 patients aged ${\geq}75years$ underwent isolated AVR with stented bioprosthetic valves for aortic valve stenosis (AS). The main etiologies of AS were degenerative (n=63) and bicuspid (n=21). The median follow-up duration was 40.7 months (range, 0.6-174 months). Results: Operative mortality occurred in 2 patients (2.1%) and paravalvular leak occurred in 1 patient. No patients required permanent pacemaker insertion after surgery. Late death occurred in 11 patients. The overall survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 87.2% and 65.1%, respectively. The rates of freedom from valve-related events at 5 and 10 years were 94.5% and 88.6%, respectively. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score (p=0.013) and chronic kidney disease (p=0.030) were significant factors affecting long-term survival. The minimal p-value approach demonstrated that an STS score of 3.5% was the most suitable cut-off value for predicting long-term survival. Conclusion: Surgical AVR for elderly AS patients may be feasible in terms of early mortality and postoperative complications, particularly paravalvular leak and permanent pacemaker insertion. The STS score and chronic kidney disease were associated with long-term outcomes after AVR in the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.156-164
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• 2015

Bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy is considered a standard technique in mandibular orthognathic surgeries to reduce unexpected bilateral stress in the temporomandibular joints. Unilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (USSO) was recently introduced to correct facial asymmetry caused by asymmetric mandibular prognathism and has shown favorable outcomes. If unilateral surgery could guarantee long-term postoperative stability as well as favorable results, operation time and the incidence of postoperative complications could be reduced compared to those in bilateral surgery. This report highlights three consecutive cases with long-term follow-up in which USSO was used to correct asymmetric mandibular prognathism. Long-term postoperative changes in the condylar contour and ramus and condylar head length were analyzed using routine radiography and computed tomography. In addition, prior USSO studies were reviewed to outline clear criteria for applying this technique. In conclusion, patients showing functional-type asymmetry with predicted unilateral mandibular movement of less than 7 mm can be considered suitable candidates for USSO-based correction of asymmetric mandibular prognathism with or without maxillary arch surgeries.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 2014

Fabry disease is an X-linked disease caused by deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A. Affected males present anhydrosis, acroparesthesia and angiokeratoma, and subsequently cardiac, cerebral and renal complications are followed. Females and atypical variants show heterogeneous clinical symptoms. In 2001, two recombinant enzymes were approved for Fabry disease: agalsidase alpha and agalsidase beta. Since the introduction of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), the number of long-term follow-up studies has been reported. Long-term ERT showed effectiveness on renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease, decrease or stabilization of left ventricular mass, and improvement of pain and quality of life. However, there were limited effects on cerebrovascular events and their mortality. Current literatures on the clinical effect of ERT have reported limited datain adult patients who have already advanced disease. Therefore, further study for pre-symptomatic patients and atypical variants is needed to verify the impact of ERT. This review summarized recent progresses in ERT and limitations of long-term effect of ERT in patients with Fabry disease.

• Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research
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• v.95 no.6
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• pp.333-339
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the long-term effects of stenting in patients with hepatic venous outflow obstruction (HVOO), who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2009, 622 adult patients underwent LDLT at our hospital, and of these patients, 21 (3.3%) were diagnosed with HVOO; among these patients, 17 underwent stenting. The patients were divided into early or late groups according to the time of their HVOO diagnoses (cutoff: 60 days after liver transplantation). Results: The median follow-up period was 54.2 months (range, 0.5-192.4 months). Stent insertion was successful in 8 of 10 patients in the early group and 6 of 7 in the late group. The 5-year primary patency rates were 46% and 20%, respectively. In both groups, patients with recurrent HVOO at the beginning showed kinking confirmed by venography. Patients who carried their stents for more than 3 years maintained long-term patency. There was no significant difference in spleen size between groups; however, when the groups were compared according to whether they maintained patency, spleens tended to be smaller in the patency-maintained group. Conclusion: Unlike stenosis, if kinking is confirmed on venography, stenting is not feasible in the long term for patients with LDLT.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.370-374
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• 2008

Objective : Aim of study was to find a proper method for assessing subsidence using a radiologic measurement following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with stand-alone polyetheretherketone (PEEK), $Solis^{TM}$ cage. Methods : Forty-two patients who underwent ACDF with $Solis^{TM}$ cage were selected. With a minimum follow-up of 6 months, the retrospective investigation was conducted for 37 levels in 32 patients. Mean follow-up period was 18.9 months. Total intervertebral height (TIH) of two fused vertebral bodies was measured on digital radiographs with built-in software. Degree of subsidence (${\Delta}TIH$) was reflected by the difference between the immediate postoperative and follow-up TIH. Change of postoperative disc space height (CT-MR ${\Delta}TIH$) was reflected by the difference between TIH of the preoperative mid-sagittal 2D CT and that of the preoperative mid-sagittal T1-weighted MRI. Results : Compared to preoperative findings, postoperative disc height was increased in all cases and subsidence was observed only in 3 cases. For comparison of subsidence and non-subsidence group, TIH and CT-MR ${\Delta}TIH$ of each group were analyzed. There was no statistically significant difference in TIH and CT-MR ${\Delta}TIH$ between each group at 4 and 8 weeks, but a difference was observed at the last follow-up TIH (p=0.0497). Conclusion : ACDF with $Solis^{TM}$ cage was associated with relatively good radiologic long-term results. Fusion was achieved in 94.5% and subsidence occurred in 8.1% by the radiologic assessment. Statistical analysis reveals that the subsidence seen later than 8 weeks after surgery and the development of subsidence does not correlate statistically with the change of the postoperative disc space height.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.354-365
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• 2016

Objectives: Studies that reported the association between diet quality/nutritional intake status and mortality have rarely used long-term follow-up data in Asian countries, including Korea. This study investigated the association between the risk of mortality (all-cause and cause-specific) and the diet quality/nutritional intake status using follow-up 12-year mortality data from a nationally representative sample of South Koreans. Methods: 8,941 individuals who participated in 1998 and 2001 Korea Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were linked to mortality data from death certificates. Of those individuals, 1,083 (12.1%) had died as of December, 2012. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the relative risks of mortality according to the level of diet quality and intakes of major nutrients. Indicators for diet quality index and nutritional intake status were assessed using MAR (mean adequacy ratio) and energy and protein intake level compared with the 2010 Korean DRI. Results: Higher diet quality/nutritional intake status were associated with lower mortality; the mortality risk (95% confidence interval) from all-cause of lowest MAR group vs highest was 1.66 (1.27 to 2.18) among ${\geq}30$ year old, and 1.98 (1.36 to 2.86) among 30~64 year old individuals. Those with below 75% of energy and protein intake of Korean DRI had higher mortality risks of all-cause mortality compared to the reference group. Diet quality/nutritional intake status was inversely associated with mortality from cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Conclusions: Poor Diet quality/nutritional intake status were associated with a higher risk of mortality from all-cause and mortality from cardiovascular diseases and cancer among South Korean adults.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.195-201
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop guidelines for clinical trial of the total ankle replacement system for premarket approval. Materials and Methods: We selected and analyzed nine peer-reviewed articles whose quality had been proven in a previous phase. Two investigators extracted parameters for guideline criteria, including number of cases, patient age, follow-up period, failure rate, radiographic osteolysis rate, residual pain rate, and percentage of satisfaction. In addition, the inclusion and exclusion criteria were analyzed and developed. Results: Eight level IV studies and one level II study were included. The average number of cases was 159 cases and the mean patient age was 63.5 years. The mean follow-up period was 4.2 years, ranging from two to nine. The average failure rate of total ankle replacement in mid- to long-term follow-up was approximately 13% (2%~32.3%). The rate of osteolysis was approximately 18%. Residual pain was common (21.4%~46%), but overall patient satisfaction was approximately 85.6% (67.5%~97%). Conclusion: The results could be used as criteria for designing the clinical studies, such as number of cases, patient age (over 60 years), and follow-up period (minimum two years). The clinical scoring system and 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) was the most commonly used method for clinical evaluation for total ankle arthroplasty. In addition, the overall results, including failure rate, osteolysis rate, and patient satisfaction, could be used as a parameter of guidelines for premarket approval.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.369-374
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• 2009

Objective : Percutaneous vertebroplasty (VP) can provide immediate stabilization in pathologic fractures of spinal tumors. However, long term follow-up data in cases of pathologic fractures are lacking. The authors report follow-up results of VP in 185 pathologic fractures of 102 spinal tumor patients. Methods : Percutaneous VP was performed at 185 vertebral bodies of 102 patients from 2001 to 2007. Retrospective analysis was done with medical records and radiological data. The change of visual analogue score (VAS), vertebral body (VB) height and kyphotic angle were measured preoperatively and on postoperative one day and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Results : The patients were composed of metastatic spine tumors (81%) and multiple myeloma (19%). Involved spinal segments were between T6 and L5. Mean follow-up period was 12.2 months. VAS for back pain was 8.24 preoperatively, 3.59 (postoperative one day), 4.08 (three months) and 5.22 (one year). VB compression ratio changed from 21.33% preoperatively to 13.82% (postoperative one day), 14.36% (three month), and 16.04% (one year). Kyphotic angle changed from $15.35^{\circ}$ preoperatively to $12.03^{\circ}$ (postoperative one day), $13.64^{\circ}$ (three month), and $15.61^{\circ}$ (one year). Conclusion : Immediate pain relief was definite after VP in pathologic compression fracture of osteolytic spinal disease. Although VAS was slightly increased on one year follow-up, VP effect was maintained without significant change. These results indicate that VP could be a safe and effective procedure as a palliative treatment of the spinal tumor patients.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.1-34
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• 2005

This study is composed of 2 parts. Study 1 empirically examined (1) the relationships among children's creative performances measured by three product-based assessments (story-telling, collage-making, and math word problems) in three domains, and (2) the relationships between children's general creative thinking skills, measured by two divergent thinking tests, and children's creative performances. Study 2 is a three-year follow up study of the study 1. Study 2 followed up some (71) children who participated in study 1. In study 2, long-term stability of the performance based assessment involving story-telling, collage making, and math problem making were examined during the three-year time period. In addition, study 2 tried to look at the methods effect of the domain issue of creativity, comparing self-report scale and performance-based assessment. The findings of this study support the position that creative ability in young children is rather (but not absolutely) domain-specific. The long-term stability of the performance-based assessments compares favorably with stability figures for other creativity tests. Results also indicate that there are some method effect in explaining the domain issue of creativity. Implication of the study in connection with educational practices for gifted children is discussed.