• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.154-157
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• 2007

Background: Anosmia can be frustrating for both the patient and physician, with no clear treatment. We prospectively investigated the effects of stellate ganglion block (SGB) in anosmic patients who were unresponsive to conventional steroid therapy. Methods: Thirteen patients with anosmia were treated with SGB. To evaluate the improvement in olfactory function, we evaluated both changes in subjective symptoms and the butanol threshold test. The number of SGB required for improvement in olfactory function was counted. Results: Seven patients (54%) showed improvement of olfactory function with SGB. The average number of SGB for the first response was $7.4{\pm}5.9times$. Conclusions: These results suggest that SGB may be a good treatment modality for patients with anosmia unresponsive to steroid therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.168-173
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• 2014

Background: Recently, there have been several case reports and retrospective studies about the incidence of intradiscal (ID) injection during transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI). Inadvertent ID injection is not a rare complication, and it carries the risk of developing diskitis, although there has been no report of diskitis after TFESI. We prospectively evaluated the incidence of inadvertent ID injection during lumbar TFESI and analyzed the contributing factors. Methods: Ten patients received 2-level TFESI, and the remaining 229 patients received 1-level TFESI. When successful TFESI was performed, 2 ml of contrast dye was injected under real-time fluoroscopy to check for any inadvertent ID spread. A musculoskeletal radiologist analyzed all magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of patients who demonstrated inadvertent ID injection. When reviewing MRIs, the intervertebral foramen level where ID injection occurred was carefully examined, and any anatomical structure which narrowing the foramen was identified. Results: Among the 249 TFESI, we identified 6 ID injections; thus, there was an incidence of 2.4%. Four patients had isthmic spondylolisthesis, and the level of spondylolisthesis coincided with the level of ID injection. We further examined the right or left foramen of the spondylolisthesis level and identified the upward migrated disc material that was narrowing the foramen. Conclusions: Inadvertent ID injection during TFESI is not infrequent, and pain physicians must pay close attention to the type and location of disc herniation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.451-457
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• 1992

The hollow fiber oxygenator is the most advanced one for the cardiopulmoanry bypass. They have two different types of the hollow fiber systems according to the way how the blood go through the fibers. One is inside blood flow type and the other outside type. In order to find out which is better to prevent blood cell destruction, we selected 40 valve replacing patients and divided them into 2 groups prospectively. In group I [n=20], inside blood flow type[BCM-7a], CO2 excretion is more effective than group II, that is partly because of the relative large surface area of the BCM-7. In group II [n=20], outside blood flow type [MAXIMAa], they have better quality to preserve platelet count. We also studied about several other items such as SaO2, Hemoglobin and RBC, WBC, fibrinogen, LDH, plasma hemoglobin, haptoglobulin and so on. But we cannot find any differences between two groups with any statistical meanings [p<0.05]. We conclude that both of two oxygenators are excellent in the aspects of gas exchange and blood cell preservation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.467-473
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• 2003

The pelvic radiographs of 47 clinically normal Jindoes (26 dogs and 21 bitches) were investigated to evaluate the coxofemoral joints, prospectively. The hip joints were graded according to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals criteria of excellent, good, fair, borderline, mild canine hip dysplasia (CHD), moderate CHD, severe CHD. Of the 47 Jindoes evaluated, 8 (17%) were graded as dysplastic, 3 (6.4%) were mildly dysplastic, 3 (6.4%) were moderately dysplastic, and 2 (4.3%) were severly dysplastic. Of the 39 Jindoes graded as normal, 16 (34%) were classified as having excellent hip joint phenotype, 15 (31.9%) were classified as having fair, and 8 (17%) were classified as good. Each hip joint was scored based on the British Veterinary Association/The Kennel Club hip scoring system. The normal hip joint (excellent, fair, good) received score less than 5, while dysplastic hip joint (mild, moderate, severe CHD) received score form 5 to 29. Norberg angle (r=0.76) and femoral angle of inclination (r=0.6) were in inverse proportion to grade of the hip joint (P<0.01). The width of medial joint space was in proportion to grade of hip joint (r=0.7, P<0.01).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.2989-2993
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• 2016

The commonest cancer in Egyptian females occurs in the breast cfDNA is a non-invasive marker for tumor detetion and prognostic assessment in many types of cancer including breast cancer. This study aimed to assess the role of cfDNA and its fragmentation pattern in breast cancer prognosis and treatment response. Forty female patients with malignant breast tumors and a comparable group of healthy blood donors were enrolled prospectively. cfDNA levels and fragmentation patterns were investigated after cfDNA extraction, gel electrophoresis and gel analysis. The percentage of breast cancer patients positive for cfDNA (92.5%) was significantly higher than that of controls (55%). Also, mean concentration of cfDNA was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). Most Her-2 positive patients had long cfDNA fragments, this being significant as compared to Her-2 negative patients (P<0.05). Metastasis was also positively linked to significantly higher cfDNA (P<0.05) and the mean cfDNA integrity index was significantly higher in non-responders compared to treatment responders (P<0.05). In conclusion, both qualitative and quantitative aspects of cfDNA and its different fragments in breast cancer patients could be related to prognosis, metastasis and treatment response. Long cfDNA fragments could be particularly useful for prediction purposes.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.99-103
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• 2008

Purpose: Chlorine gas is a common irritant that usually causes mild respiratory symptoms. One severe symptom, RADS (Reactive Airway Dysfunction Syndrome), is not well known to physicians. We analyzed the clinical features of chlorine gas exposure. Methods: We prospectively collected 25 cases of chlorine gas exposure near our emergency center on January 10th, 2007, and analyzed demographic data, event-to-ER interval, symptoms, and laboratory results based on medical records. Results: Only 2 patients out of 25 were admitted because of severe symptoms, the rest were discharged without complications. Sixty percent of them visited the ER within 12 h of exposure. The most common symptoms were chest discomfort (60%), headache (40%), nausea (40%), throat irritation (26%), and cough (32%). Two out of eight dyspnea cases showed abnormal pulmonary function, but only one case was diagnosed as RADS. Conclusion: Most symptoms after chlorine gas exposure can be treated conservatively. However, patients with chlorine exposure should be followed up long term for delayed complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.338-341
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• 2021

As diagnoses of small ground glass nodule (GGN)-type lung adenocarcinoma are increasing due to the increasing frequency of computed tomography (CT) screening, surgical treatment for GGN-type lung adenocarcinoma has rapidly become more common. However, the appropriate surgical extent for these lesions remains unclear; therefore, several retrospective studies have been published and prospectively randomized controlled trials are being undertaken. This article takes a closer look at each clinical study. Convincing evidence must be published on 2 issues for sublobar resection to be accepted as a standard surgical option for GGN lung adenocarcinoma. In the absence of such evidence, it is better to perform lobar resection as long as the patient has sufficient lung function. The first issue is the definition of a sufficient resection margin, and the second is whether lymph node metastasis is conclusively ruled out before surgery. An additional issue is the need for an accurate calculation of the total size and solid size on CT. Given the results of clinical studies so far, wedge resection or segmentectomy shows a good prognosis for GGNs with a total size of 2 cm or less. Therefore, sublobar resection will play a key role even in patients who can tolerate lobectomy.

• Knee surgery & related research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.319-325
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• 2018

Purpose: Body mass index (BMI) is often used to predict surgical difficulty in patients receiving total knee arthroplasty (TKA); however, BMI neglects variation in the central versus peripheral distribution of adipose tissue. We sought to examine whether anthropometric factors, rather than BMI alone, may serve as a more effective indication of surgical difficulty in TKA. Materials and Methods: We prospectively enrolled 67 patients undergoing primary TKA. Correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the associations of tourniquet time, a surrogate of surgical difficulty, with BMI, pre- and intraoperative anthropometric measurements, and radiographic knee alignment. Similarly, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was compared to BMI. Results: Tourniquet time was significantly associated with preoperative inferior knee circumference (p=0.025) and ankle circumference (p=0.003) as well as the intraoperative depth of incision at the quadriceps (p=0.014). BMI was not significantly associated with tourniquet time or any of the radiographic parameters or KOOS scores. Conclusions: Inferior knee circumference, ankle circumference, and depth of incision at the quadriceps (measures of peripheral obesity) are likely better predictors of surgical difficulty than BMI. Further study of alternative surgical indicators should investigate patients that may be deterred from TKA for high BMI, despite relatively low peripheral obesity.

• Asian Spine Journal
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.992-997
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• 2018

Study Design: Feasibility study. Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of using serum pentosidine level as a potential marker for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). Overview of Literature: A review of previous studies suggests a negative correlation between serum pentosidine concentration and bone strength. However, it is unclear whether serum pentosidine level might be a potential marker of OVCF in Koreans. Methods: Forty patients who underwent bone mineral density examination were included in this study, and their serum pentosidine levels were prospectively analyzed. Serum pentosidine level was evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Among all the patients, 11 with OVCF were assigned to the vertebral fracture group and 29 who did not have vertebral fracture were included in the non-fracture group. In addition, we used the Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX) tool Korean version for assessing the 10-year probability of fracture. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the mean serum pentosidine level (p=0.04) of the vertebral fracture group (110.8 ng/mL) and the non-fracture group (64.3 ng/mL). Logistic regression analyses showed that serum pentosidine was significantly associated with OVCF. The vertebral fracture group had significantly higher 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fracture as per FRAX than the non-fracture group. There was a positive correlation between pentosidine level and FRAX results (r=0.35, p=0.02). Conclusions: These results suggest that increased serum pentosidine level could be a potential marker for OVCF.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2019

Background: Because of its efficacy and safety, polyethylene glycol (PEG) is generally used to prepare for colonoscopy. However, the side effects of PEG, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, pain, and general weakness, tend to decrease patient compliance and satisfaction. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of PEG with 0.1 mg ramosetron on colonoscopy patients who had difficulty taking PEG due to side effects or large volume. Methods: From January to August in 2012, 28 patients who visited Yeungnam University hospital for a colonoscopy were prospectively enrolled. All enrolled patients were previous history underwent colonoscopy using PEG only in our hospital. The efficacy and safety of ramosetron were assessed through the use of a questionnaire, and compared previous bowel preparation. Results: Compared to previous examination, the patients using the ramosetron reported less nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and abdominal pain, as well as a higher degree of compliance and satisfaction of the patient. There were no side effects reported with the use of ramosetron. However, overall bowel preparation quality was not better than the previous examination. Conclusion: In case of the use of ramosetron in combination with PEG for bowel preparation, patients experienced a higher rate of compliance and tolerance. Looking forward, ramosetron may become an option of pretreatment for bowel preparation.