• Journal of Korean Dental Science
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.141-146
• /
• 2022

Leukemia is a neoplastic disease with an excessive proliferation of immature white blood cells and their precursors. Common oral manifestations of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) include ulceration, petechiae, spontaneous bleeding, and gingival hyperplasia. The estimated prevalence of AML is 19 per 100,000 populations, the median age of diagnosis is over 65 years, and of all the subtypes of leukemia, AML accounts for the highest percentage of leukemic deaths. The purpose of this study is to report the case of a 77-year-old female patient, who visited our outpatient clinic due to consistent inflammatory findings. Though she received surgical treatment, she was diagnosed with AML by chance after a preoperative blood test. We also discuss the necessity of performing a preoperative blood test prior to invasive dental procedures such as tooth extraction or biopsy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.139-144
• /
• 2022

Peripheral facial nerve palsy is a neurological condition/disease characterized by unilateral paralysis of the facial muscles. We report the effects of complex Korean medicine treatment in 2 patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy who developed symptoms 3-4 days following vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and who received oral steroids and antiviral medications. Complex Korean medicine treatments including acupuncture, electroacupuncture, bee venom acupuncture, cupping therapy, herbal medicine, and physical therapy were performed. Symptom improvement was evaluated daily using the Numerical Rating Scale, House-Brackmann Grade, and Yanagihara's Score. Patient 1 was hospitalized for 22 days and Patient 2 visited the outpatient clinic 20 times. In both cases, postauricular pain caused by Bell's palsy disappeared, and symptoms of facial paralysis improved following completion of treatment. These findings could suggest that combined Korean medicine treatment may improve symptoms of peripheral facial nerve palsy.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.342-347
• /
• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of dentigerous and radicular cysts that occur between deciduous and succeeding permanent teeth and to propose considerations for differential diagnosis of cysts at the treatment planning stage in the outpatient clinic. Materials and Methods: A total of 87 patients with a cystic lesion located between a deciduous tooth and the succeeding permanent tooth participated in the study. Twelve variables were analyzed to diagnose such a cyst. For data analysis, Fisher's exact test was used to determine the statistical significance of the variables. Results: Of the total 87 patients who participated in this study, 69 were diagnosed with dentigerous cysts and 18 were diagnosed with radicular cysts. Seven of the 12 differential factors analyzed in this study were statistically significant: age, location, symptoms, dental caries, endodontic treatment, delayed eruption, and size. Conclusion: Several criteria can be considered for diagnosis of dentigerous cysts or radicular cysts. Age, location, presence of symptoms and dental caries, previous endodontic treatment, cystic size, and delayed eruption of impacted permanent teeth are reliable factors that should be considered when diagnosing dentigerous and radicular cysts.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.143-149
• /
• 2023

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a chronic and recurrent upper gastrointestinal symptom that has no organic cause. A 49-year-old male patient positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) visited the clinic because of FD and constipation. He received complex Korean medicine treatment, including acupuncture and herbal medicines, from April 14 to July 18, 2022 (27 times) in the outpatient department. Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI), FD-related quality of life (FD-QoL), Euro QoL visual analog scale (EQ-VAS), and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) were used as evaluation tools in this study. Symptoms were relieved after 3 months of treatment, and his QoL improved (GSRS, 15-3; NDI, 110-21; FD-QoL, 52-20 [eating status, 10-3; liveliness status, 12-8; psychological, 1-0; role-functioning status, 18-9]; EQ-VAS, 40-65; NRS, 8-4). The results revealed that complex Korean medicine treatment could alleviate FD and constipation in patients with HIV.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.101-105
• /
• 2023

Benign cartilaginous tumors, known as chondrogenic tumors, show cartilage components in the microscopic diagnosis. We present two clinical cases with cartilaginous tumors of the toes showing distinctive clinical manifestations. Two juvenile patients visited our outpatient clinic due to tumors with toenail deformities. A 10-year-old girl presented with a palpable mass with a nail deformity on the left third toe. The initial pathology report was soft tissue chondroma until complete resection. Another 15-year-old male patient visited the dermatology department with a toenail deformity and underwent a punch biopsy. The pathology report was fibrosis with myxoid degeneration. Excisional biopsies were performed for both patients. In the operative field, we observed exophytic tumors connected to the distal phalangeal bones. The final pathology reports were subungual osteochondroma on both patients. The specimen exhibited mature bone trabeculae with a focal cartilaginous cap. Benign cartilaginous tumors have a slow, progressive course and do not show significant symptoms. However, tumors in subungual areas are accompanied by toenail deformities and they can cause pain. Their clinical characteristics lead to a delayed diagnosis. Surgeons can be confused between soft tissue and chondrogenic tumors. When they conduct physical examinations, these categories should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.125-129
• /
• 2022

Patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) are generally known to be at greater risk for thrombosis, with arterial thrombosis-related complications being relatively rare compared to venous thrombosis-related complications. This report describes a 46-year-old male with historically proven minimal change disease (MCD) complicated by acute aortoiliac thrombosis. He had been diagnosed with MCD 8 months previously and was treated successfully with steroids. He was prescribed a second course of high-dose steroids (prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day) due to a relapse of MCD at the outpatient clinic 8 days before the emergency department visit. The patient presented with severe pain in both lower limbs and was diagnosed with aortoiliac thrombosis that developed during high-dose steroid treatment. He subsequently underwent surgical thromboembolectomy. Hypoalbuminemia has the strongest association with the risk of thromboembolism. According to international clinical practice guidelines, anticoagulant therapy is recommended when serum albumin is ≤2-2.5 g/dL. However, as serum albumin levels may be relatively high in the early phase of NS, as in this case report, an individualized anticoagulation strategy for each patient should be considered, regardless of serum albumin levels.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.12-28
• /
• 2023

Introduction This study reports case series of Soyangin patients with coldness in hands and feet using Sasang constitutional medicine approach. This study suggests a value of using constitutional medicine indicators as both prognostic and diagnostic tools. Methods Among patients who visited an outpatient clinic, 7 patients were selected based on the criteria. These selected patients were exclusively treated with herbal medicine and monitored every 2 to 4 weeks retrospectively. Results The average treatment period was 8 weeks. Patients with a favorable pattern showed the improvement within 8 weeks, while those with an unfavorable pattern required more time. Discussion This study confirms the significance of Sasang constitutional medicine approach in Soyangin exterior cold syndrome with coldness in hands and feet. It also validates the current coldness in hands and feet as meaningful diagnostic indicator of Soyangin exterior cold syndrome. Furthermore, it highlights the value of original symptoms as prognostic tools.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.37-48
• /
• 2023

Background: Commensal bacteria play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and probiotics have been used as treatment options. We aimed to explore the current use of probiotics and factors associated with their prescription in patients with IBD. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a single hospital-based cohort. Patients were eligible if they were ≥18 years old, visited the IBD clinic as an outpatient more than twice during the study period, and had a confirmed diagnosis of IBD. Patients were divided into two groups based on the prescription of probiotics. Clinical assessments were compared between the two groups. Results: In total, 217 patients were enrolled in this study. In patients with Crohn disease (CD), moderate or severe abdominal pain; prior use of methotrexate (MTX), iron, thiopurines, or biologics; history of IBD-related surgery; and stool frequency were independently associated with the prescription of probiotics. In patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), moderate or severe abdominal pain, hematochezia, stool frequency, and moderate or severe physician global assessment score were independently associated with the prescription of probiotics. Conclusion: Increased disease activity may be associated with fewer prescriptions of probiotics in patients with IBD. However, physicians prescribed probiotics to control symptoms, such as abdominal pain and increased stool frequency in patients with UC and CD, and hematochezia in patients with UC. Additionally, the use of MTX and iron, and a history of IBD-related surgeries were associated with more frequent probiotic prescriptions in patients with CD.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.105-113
• /
• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the roles and function of family in mediating the relationship between depression and quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Most studies have found that depression is particularly common in patients with PD and further associated with poor quality of life. Family function, as a mediator, is based on a strength orientation perspective that emphasizes not only their responsibilities and risks but also recuperative powers and growth potential. Methods: Overall 157 adults with idiopathic Parkinson's disease were enrolled in this study via outpatient clinic and completed a set of assessment to measure depression using BDI, family APGAR questionnaire, and patients' quality of life using PDQ-8. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the mediating role of family APGAR score in the relationship between BDI and PDQ-8. Results: Patients' depression, gait disturbance, duration of illness, and family function were statistically significant on quality of life. These factors accounted for 60% of the variance in quality of life. Family function has a partial mediating effect on the relationship between depression and quality of life. Conclusion: Findings from the study suggest that although PD patients' depression impacts their quality of life, by having strong family function, the extent to which depression impacts the quality of life can be favorably mitigated. Additionally, these outcomes have important implications for future model development regarding PD patients.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.33-36
• /
• 2023

Malignant lymphoma rarely occurs in the larynx and hypopharynx. Few cases of malignant lymphoma in the larynx were reported in Korea. However, malignant lymphoma in the hypopharynx had been not reported in Korea. A 68-year-old woman came to the outpatient clinic with a foreign body sensation in her throat. A round, smooth margin, bright pink-colored mass was confirmed by the laryngoscopy. The patient took neck computer tomography. A small bulging of mucosa was observed, but there was no peripheral infiltration or abnormally enlarged lymph nodes. We did excision using CO2 LASER. She was finally diagnosed with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT lymphoma). After diagnosis, several image studies confirmed that there was no metastatic lesion. She got only radiotherapy after that and kept a complete response state for over 2 years.