• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.1142-1151
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• 2018

Purpose: We assessed the visual and anatomical outcomes, and the safety profile of long-term intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections (aflibercept, ranibizumab, and bevacizumab) given to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NAMD). Methods: We analyzed medical records collected over 7 years of treatment-naive NAMD patients who received outpatient clinic-based intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. All were treated employing either "treat-and-extend" or "as needed" protocols at the discretion of the retinal specialist. The number of injections, adverse events associated with injection, and measures of visual acuity (VA), central foveal thickness (CFT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were recorded. Results: Overall, we assessed 196 eyes of 196 patients (average age $68.6{\pm}9.6years$; 77 females). Patients received an average of $17.3{\pm}13.5$ injections over $78.0{\pm}16.5months$ of clinical follow-up. The initial mean VA (logMAR) was $0.75{\pm}0.58$ and the CFT was $349.7{\pm}152.6{\mu}m$. Both parameters exhibited maximal improvements at the 6-month visit (p < 0.05). However, the clinical outcomes worsened over the 7-year clinical course; the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was $0.91{\pm}0.78$ and the CFT was $284.5{\pm}105.8{\mu}m$ at 7 years. The BCVA at 7 years was significantly correlated with the initial BCVA. IOP-related events increased 11-fold and anterior chamber reactions increased 3-fold over the years, but no significant complications such as endophthalmitis were recorded. Conclusions: The use of intravitreal anti-VEGF agents was associated with initial visual improvements over 6 months but did not prevent the worsening of NAMD over 5 years. The BCVA at the initial visit was a strong predictor of the final BCVA. A more intensive injection schedule might improve long-term outcomes.

• Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.205-209
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• 2018

Purpose: Several studies have shown that magnesium plays an important role in modulating N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-related seizures by blocking NMDA ion channel receptors. Clinicians usually measure total serum magnesium levels instead of biologically active ionized magnesium levels. We compared the serum ionized magnesium ($iMg^{2+}$) level between epileptic children with and without a history of fever-triggered seizure (FTS). Methods: All epileptic children who visited the outpatient clinic or pediatric emergency department at Korea University Guro Hospital between January 2015 and July 2017 were included. Only epileptic children aged 1-8 years who were newly diagnosed within 2 years were included. Results: There were 12 children with FTS and 16 without FTS. Median serum $iMg^{2+}$ level was 0.93 (0.85-1.14, quartile) mEq/L. Serum $iMg^{2+}$ level was significantly lower in epileptic children with FTS (0.86 mEq/L) compared to those without FTS (1.10 mEq/L) (P=0.005). No difference was noted in clinical variables between the two groups. Lower serum $iMg^{2+}$ level significantly increased the risk of having FTS in epileptic children based on multivariable logistic regression analysis (odds ratio [OR]=0.028). Conclusion: Serum $iMg^{2+}$ level was significantly lower in epileptic children with FTS than in those without FTS. Measurement of biologically active serum $iMg^{2+}$ level could be considered in epileptic children with recurrent FTS. A large-scale prospective study is warranted.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.83-93
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• 2016

Objectives : The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale-Revised is a recently revised scale which has been reported as a valid tool for the assessment of depressive symptoms. It encompasses cardinal symptoms of depression described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders, fourth edition. In this study, we assessed the reliability, validity and psychometric properties of the Korean version of the CESD-R(K-CESD-R). Methods : Forty-eight patients diagnosed as major depressive disorder, dysthymia, depressive disorder NOS according to the DSM-IV criteria using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and 48 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. They were assessed with K-CESD-R, K-MADRS, PHQ-9, KQIDS-SR, STAI to check cross-validation. Statistical analyses were performed using calculation of Cronbach's alpha, Pearson correlation coefficient, Principal Component Analysis, ROC curve and optimal cut-off value. Results : The Cronbach's alpha of K-CESD-R was 0.98. The total score of K-CESD-R revealed significantly high correlations with those of K-MADRS, PHQ-9, KQIDS-SR(r=0.910, 0.966 and 0.920, p<0.001, respectively). Factor analysis showed two factors account for 76.29% of total variance. We suggested the optimal cut-off value of K-CESD-R as 13 according to analysis of the ROC curve which value sensitivity and specificity both equally. Conclusions : These Results showed that the K-CESD-R could be a reliable and valid scale to assess depressive symptoms. The K-CESD-R is expected as a useful and effective tool for screening and measuring depressive symptoms not only in outpatient clinic but also epidemiologic studies.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.16-31
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• 2019

Objective : The purpose of this study is to analyze the charcateristics of inpatients in Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology & Dermatology Clinic by gender, age, season, and department of medical care after hospitalization from March, 2012 to February, 2018. Method : From March 1, 2012 to February 28, 2018, patients who were admitted to the Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology & Dermatology Clinic of Korean Medical Hospital were classified by gender, age, department, and season, and their relationship, hospitalization period, number of outpatient visits Differences were analyzed objectively using various statistical methods using IBM SPSS 18.0. Results : 1. The number of inpatients was 432, including duplication. Of these, 317 were female and 115 were male. The number of female patients was 2.8 times higher. 2. The average age of the inpatients was 43.9 years and the number of middle-aged 40-50 patients was 48.6%. 3. The number of inpatients in the departments was in the order of dermatology, otology, laryngology, rhinology, and ophthalmology. The most hospitalized diseases were eczema in the dermatology department, sudden hearing loss in the otology department, tonsillitis/peritonsillar abscess, rhinitis in the rhinology department, and dry eye syndrome in ophthalmology. 1) The effect of gender on the difference in the number of inpatients by subdivision was statistically significant. 2) The effect of age on the difference in the number of inpatients by subdivision was statistically significant. 3) The effect of seasons on the difference in the number of inpatients was not statistically significant. 4. The number of inpatients by season was in the order of winter, spring, summer, autumn, and the number of inpatients decreased significantly in autumn. 1) The effect of gender on the difference in the number of hospitalized patients by season was not statistically significant. 2) The effect of age on the difference in the number of hospitalized patients by season was not statistically significant. 5. The average length of hospital stay for inpatients was 10.7 days. 1) The effect of gender on length of hospital stay was not statistically significant. 2) The effect of age on hospital stay was not statistically significant. 3) The effect of the subdivision on hospital stay was statistically significant. 4) The effect of the season on hospital stay was not statistically significant. Conclusion : As a result of this study, the most distinctive feature of the present study was the high rate of inpatients with otic disease like idiopathic hearing loss and Meniere 's syndrome and the high rate of female patients. This may be related to the increased prevalence of the disease and the severity of the disease. In addition, the high rate of female patients suggests that women are more likely to be affected by illnesses, as well as to have more medical use and severe symptoms requiring hospitalization. In the future, it would be better to provide various treatment plans and policies for patients with otic diseases and female patients. Also it would be good if studies on these fields are made in the future.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.68-76
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• 2021

Foodborne outbreaks frequently occur worldwide and result in huge economic losses. It is the therefore important to estimate the costs associated with foodborne diseases to minimize the economic damage. At the same time, it is difficult to accurately estimate the economic loss from foodborne disease due to a wide variety of cost components. In Korea, there are a limited number of analytical studies attempting to estimate such costs. In this study we investigated the components of economic cost used in foreign countries to better estimate the cost of foodborne disease in Korea. Seven recent studies investigated the cost components used to estimate the cost of foodborne disease in humans. This study categorized the economic loss into four types of cost: direct costs, indirect costs, food business costs, and government administration costs. The healthcare costs most often included were medical (outpatient) and hospital costs (inpatient). However, these cost components should be selected according to the systems and budgets of medical services by country. For non-healthcare costs, several other studies considered transportation costs to the hospital as an exception to the cost of inpatient care. So, further discussion is needed on whether to consider inpatient care costs. Among the indirect costs, premature mortality, lost productivity, lost leisure time, and lost quality of life/pain, grief and suffering costs were considered, but the opportunity costs for hospital visits were not considered in any of the above studies. As with healthcare costs, government administration costs should also be considered appropriate cost components due to the difference in government budget systems, for example. Our findings will provide fundamental information for economic analysis associated with foodborne diseases to improve food safety policy in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.143-154
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• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine cognitive and psychological characteristics of patients with military service suitability issues compared to the general psychiatric outpatients. Methods : 108 patients who visited psychiatric clinic center due to military service suitability issues and 80 general psychiatric patients were recruited from the Department of Psychiatry of university hospital. ANCOVA and chi-equare test were used to examine differences between two groups. Furthermore, we utilized paired t-test to compare the scrore within military group depending on when they performed the psychological assessment. Results : There were no significant differences between military group and general outpatient group in WAIS-IV scores. However, military group scored remarkably higher than control group on validity scales, F-r and Fp-r whereas they scored lower on validity scale, K-r. Furthermore, military group showed significantly higher on BDI and MMPI-2-RF, EID, RCd, RC2, RC3, COG, HLP, SFD, NFC, STW, SAVE, SHY, DSF, NEGE-r, INTR-r. As a result of comparison within the military group following the periods of assessment, military group did not show the significant differences on the overall scales of MMPI-2-RF. Conclusions : The present study showed that military group tends to report their psychological distress more exaggeratedly. In addition, they had significantly elevated not only emotional distress such as depression and anxiety but interpersonal problem. The implications and limitations were discussed along with some suggestions for the future studies.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.150-156
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• 2021

Purpose: To determine how the location, displacement, intra-articular involvement, comminution of a 5th metatarsal base fracture affect results of early weight-bearing treatment. Materials and Methods: From January 2013 to July 2017, 34 cases of 34 patients diagnosed with a fracture of the zone I and II 5th metatarsal base were enrolled. The mean follow-up period was 13 months (6-15 months). One patient was excluded as a refracture during the follow-up period, and 33 patients underwent conservative treatment. Anteroposterior, lateral, and simple oblique radiography and computed tomography of the foot were performed to evaluate the location and displacement of the fracture, the degree of joint involvement, and comminution. In all 33 patients, a short leg cast or boot brace was selected immediately after the injury, tolerable weight bearing was allowed. If the pain disappeared, full weight bearing was performed after wearing a plain shoe or postoperative shoe. As a clinical result, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was evaluated at the final follow-up. During outpatient follow-up, a simple radiograph of the foot was taken to confirm the time of radiological bone union and return to work. Results: Nine males and 24 females, with an average age of 48.7 years, were enrolled in the study. Twenty-four patients had zone I fractures, and nine patients had zone II fractures. Twenty-two out of 33 patients had a fracture displacement of 2 mm or more. Nine and five patients had joint involvement and comminution, respectively. There was a statistically significant return to work from zone I to zone II. The AOFAS score was excellent at the final follow-up and there was no significant difference. When classifying and comparing the degree of fracture displacement, joint involvement, and comminution, there were no significant differences in the radiological union time and return to work. In all cases, satisfactory results were obtained at the final follow-up. Conclusion: Satisfactory clinical results can be obtained by allowing early weight-bearing regardless of the fracture location, displacement, joint involvement, or comminution in zone I and II 5th metatarsal base fractures.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2021

Purpose: Verifying a reliable predictor of the progression of vertebral deformity in patients with acute osteoporotic fractures of the lumbar spine may be useful. A qualitative analysis of the muscle near the spine was performed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and its correlation with a spinal deformity was determined under the hypothesis that the causes of the kyphotic deformity are associated with muscle reduction in the multifidus and erector spinae. Materials and Methods: The study was performed in a retrospective manner using the electronic medical records of patients who presented to the author's institution between January 2007 and March 2018, and were diagnosed with an acute lumbar fracture. The fat infiltration rates of the multifidus and erector spinae were measured using MRI taken at the time of injury, and the mean value was defined as the total fat infiltration rate (TFI). Based on lateral radiographs of the lumbar spine at the one-year follow-up, the loss of height of the vertebral body, the kyphotic angle and the wedge angle were measured. The statistical significance was confirmed by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: One hundred twenty-nine patients, of which 30 were male and 99 were female, were examined. The mean age was 71.28 years. The mean T-score was -3.53±0.79 g/cm², and the mean fat infiltration was 15.20%±11.99%. TFI was positively correlated with age (R=0.373, p<0.001), compression rate (R=0.369, p<0.001), and Cobb's angle (R=0.386, p<0.001) after a one year follow-up, but negatively correlated with the BMD score (R=-0.252, p=0.004). As the fracture progressed to the lower lumbar level, the compression rate (R=-0191, p=0.030) and wedge angle (R=-0.428, p<0.001) at the time of injury tended to decrease. Conclusion: In patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures, the fat infiltration rate may be an important predictor of conservative treatment. The prognosis of patients with a high-fat infiltration rate should be explained during patient education, and the patients must be monitored closely through short-term outpatient follow-up.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.229-236
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the utility of preliminary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements in the ultrasound-guided L4 selective nerve root block. Materials and Methods: As a retrospective study, 71 patients, who met the criteria for outpatient visits from March 2016 to December 2017, were included. From March 2016 to February 2017, 31 patients who underwent an L4 nerve root block without MRI were classified as group A, and 40 patients who underwent an L4 nerve root block through MRI measurements from March 2017 to December 2017 were classified as group B. Group A was injected under ultrasound-guidance through the pararadicular approach without a pre-interventional MRI evaluation, and group B was injected under ultrasound-guidance according to the preliminary MRI measurements. The results were assessed using the numeric rating scale scores before, three hours, and two, six, and 12 weeks after the procedure. Results: At three hours after the procedure, the proportion of patients better than good results were 51.6% in group A and 67.5% in group B. At two weeks after the procedure, the proportion of patients with better than good results were 48.4% and 70.0% in groups A and B, respectively; 58.1% and 62.5% of patient of groups A and B, respectively, showed better than good results after six weeks. In 12 weeks after the procedure, the results of group A and B were 67.7% and 62.5%, respectively. At three hours and two weeks after the procedure, group B showed significant symptom improvement than group A (p<0.05). The procedures were repeated 2.8 and 1.7 times in groups A and B, respectively, between two and six weeks for satisfactory pain relief (p<0.05). Conclusion: A pre-interventional MRI evaluation might improve pain relief within the initial two weeks after ultrasound-guided L4 selective nerve root block by improving the success rate of the procedure.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2020

Purpose: To examine the clinical and structural outcomes of an at least two-year follow-up of arthroscopic full-thickness rotator cuff repairs with a single-row or suture-bridge technique in patients more than 65 years of age. Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with a full-thickness rotator cuff tear who were more than 65 years of age, underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair after at least six months of conservative treatment, agreed to take a follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) six months postoperatively, and visited outpatient for at least two years were enrolled in this study. Clinical evaluations were done using The University of California Los Angeles score, Constant Shoulder Score, and visual analogue scale evaluated two years after the surgery. The structural integrity was analyzed using follow-up MRI. During surgery, a suture-bridge technique was used if the rotator cuff tendon could cover half of the footprint under constant tension. Otherwise, single-row repair was performed. Results: The samples were 158 cases, consisting of 93 single-repairs and 65 suture-bridge repairs. A preoperative comparison of the age distribution, fatty degeneration of supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscle, medial retraction of torn cuff tendon, and tear size between the two groups were not significant. The clinical scores were improved significantly in all cases. The distribution of the structural integrity by Sugaya classification were 49 cases in type 1 (31.0%), 62 cases in type 2 (39.2%), 30 cases in type 3 (19.0%), 11 cases in type 4 (7.0%), and six cases in type 5 (3.8%). The re-tear rate of the single-row group was 9.7% (nine out of 93 cases) and 12.3% (eight out of 65 cases) for the suture-bridge group. Conclusion: Satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes were achieved after arthroscopic full-thickness rotator cuff repair in patients more than 65 years of age. Both single-row and suture-bridge techniques would be beneficial for the elderly.