• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2006

Objective : This study was conducted to examine the correlation between clinical outcomes and the size of the syrinx in post-operative magnetic resonance imaging[MRI] and symptom duration. Methods : The authors investigated twelve patients who underwent various operations for syringomyelia from January 1995 to December 2003. The authors retrospectively analyzed medical records. pre- and post-operative MRI findings, features and durations of symptoms, and the method of surgical treatments. The clinical outcomes were assessed on Prolo scale at 6 months of post-operative period. Results : Neurologic symptoms did not promptly disappear after the shrinkage of syrinx, but post-operative MRI demonstrated most patients showed reductions in the size of the syrinx. There is no statistical relationship between clinical improvements and decrements of the syrinx size. However, patients who underwent surgical treatment within 2 years from the symptom onset had more favorable outcome than those who had operations after 2 years from the onset of symptoms. Conclusion : Change in the size of the syrinx in post-operative MRI is not directly proportional to favorable clinical outcomes. However, symptom duration before surgical treatment has considerable impact on the clinical outcomes.

• Knee surgery & related research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.356-363
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• 2018

Purpose: A meta-analysis was performed to assess the outcomes following surgical intervention for medial knee plica. Materials and Methods: A literature search of Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane CENTRAL was performed using relevant key words. The primary outcome was patient-reported postoperative scores of "good" and "excellent". Meta-analyses were performed using a random effects model. Results: The literature search identified 731 articles. After removing duplicates and those not meeting the inclusion criteria, 12 articles reporting on a total of 643 knees were included for analysis, and of these, 7 articles including 235 knees were used for meta-analysis. The overall rate of good and excellent outcomes following surgery was estimated at 84.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 72.8-91.4). In those cases that had non-surgical therapy prior to surgery, the rate of good and excellent outcomes of surgery was estimated at 76.1% (95% CI, 60.1-87). Conclusions: Arthroscopic surgical management of symptomatic medial knee plica results in favourable outcomes. Our results suggest that arthroscopic surgical excision should be considered as a treatment modality in patients with pathological medial plica disease of the knee either as a first-line treatment or when symptoms have not responded to non-surgical interventions. Level of Evidence: IV.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.74-83
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• 2021

Background: This study compared the treatment outcomes of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) before and after the implementation of public-private mix (PPM). Factors affecting treatment success were also investigated. Methods: Data from culture-confirmed pulmonary MDR-TB patients who commenced MDR-TB treatment at Pusan National University Hospital between January 2003 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups in terms of PPM status: pre-PPM period, patients who commenced MDR-TB treatment between 2003 and 2010; and post-PPM period, patients treated between 2011 and 2017. Results: A total of 176 patients were included (64 and 112 in the pre- and post-PPM periods, respectively). 36.9% of the patients were resistant to a fluoroquinolone or a second-line injectable drug, or both. The overall treatment success rate was 72.7%. The success rate of post-PPM patients was higher than that of pre-PPM patients (79.5% vs. 60.9%, p=0.008). Also, loss to follow-up was lower in the post-PPM period (5.4% vs. 15.6%, p=0.023). In multivariate regression analysis, age ≥65 years, body mass index ≤18.5 kg/m², previous TB treatment, bilateral lung involvement, and extensively drug-resistant (XDR)- or pre-XDR-TB were associated with poorer treatment outcomes. However, the use of bedaquiline or delamanid for ≥1 month increased the treatment success. Conclusion: The treatment success rate in MDR-TB patients was higher in the post-PPM period than in the pre-PPM period, particularly because of the low rate of loss to follow-up. To ensure comprehensive patient-centered PPM in South Korea, investment and other support must be adequate.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.72-75
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• 2021

The incidence of Achilles tendon rupture is increasing as more people participate in sports and physical activities. However, whether to treat a complete rupture of the Achilles tendon, conservatively or operatively, is still controversial. Current studies show that the nonoperative treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture with short-term immobilization for up to two weeks and subsequent accelerated functional rehabilitation with protected weight-bearing results in similar functional outcomes and re-rupture rates compared to those treated surgically. Also, nonoperative treatment does not risk any surgical morbidity such as wound problems, infection, and nerve injury. Therefore, the treatment options for acute Achilles tendon rupture should be carefully chosen in consultation with patients regarding possible clinical outcomes and complications of both treatment options.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.615-621
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• 2022

Various treatments for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) are known to yield initial satisfactory results; however, the surgical treatment has excellent long-term outcomes and a low recurrence rate. Surgical treatment addresses the challenge of vascular compression, which accounts for 85% of the causes of TN. As for surgical treatment for TN, microvascular decompression (MVD) has become the surgical treatment of choice after Peter J. Jannetta reported the results of MVD surgery in 1996. Since then, many studies have reported a success rate of over 90% for the initial surgical treatment. Most MVDs aim to separate (decompress) the culprit vessel from the trigeminal nerve. To increase the success rate of surgery, accurate indications for MVD and management of the offender vessels without complications are critical. In addition, if there is no vascular compression, partial sensory rhizotomy or internal neurolysis can be performed to improve surgical outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.523-527
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• 2012

Objective : The incidence of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is rare. Patients with SSEH, however, present disabling neurologic deficits. Clinical outcomes are variable among patients. To evaluate the adequate treatment method according to initial patients' neurological status and clinical outcome with comparison of variables affecting the clinical outcome. Methods : We included 15 patients suffered from SSEH. Patients were divided into two groups by treatment method. Initial neurological status and clinical outcomes were assessed by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale. Also sagittal hematoma location and length of involved segment was analyzed with magnetic resonance images. Other factors such as age, sex, premorbid medication and duration of hospital stay were reviewed with medical records. Nonparametric statistical analysis and subgroup analysis were performed to overcome small sample size. Results : Among fifteen patients, ten patients underwent decompressive surgery, and remaining five were treated with conservative therapy. Patients showed no different initial neurologic status between treatment groups. Initial neurologic status was strongly associated with neurological recovery (p=0.030). Factors that did not seem to affect clinical outcomes included : age, sex, length of the involved spinal segment, sagittal location of hematoma, premorbid medication of antiplatelets or anticoagulants, and treatment methods. Conclusion : For the management of SSEH, early decompressive surgery is usually recommended. However, conservative management can also be feasible in selective patients who present neurologic status as ASIA scale E or in whom early recovery of function has initiated with ASIA scale C or D.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.740-750
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• 2021

Objective : Retrograde suction decompression (RSD) is an adjuvant technique used for the microsurgical treatment of large and giant internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms. In this study, we analyzed the efficacy and safety of the RSD technique for the treatment of large and giant ICA aneurysms relative to other conventional microsurgical techniques. Methods : The aneurysms were classified into two groups depending on whether the RSD method was used (21 in the RSD group vs. 43 in the non-RSD group). Baseline characteristics, details of the surgical procedure, angiographic outcomes, clinical outcomes, and procedure-related complications of each group were reviewed retrospectively. Results : There was no significant difference in the rates of complete neck-clipping between the RSD (57.1%) and non-RSD (67.4%) groups. Similarly, there was no difference in the rates of good clinical outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2) between the RSD (85.7%) and non-RSD (81.4%) groups. Considering the initial functional status, 19 of 21 (90.5%) patients in the RSD group and 35 of 43 (81.4%) patients in the non-RSD group showed an improvement or no change in functional status, which did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion : In this study, the microsurgical treatment of large and giant intracranial ICA aneurysms using the RSD technique obtained competitive angiographic and clinical outcomes without increasing the risk of procedure-related complications. The RSD technique might be a useful technical option for the microsurgical treatment of large and giant intracranial ICA aneurysms.

• 대한치과교정학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.20.1-20.1
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• 2001

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.101-103
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• 2015

There are no standard consensus about treatment results and prognostic factors based on randomized trials for benign vocal fold lesion. Currently, voice therapy is the treatment of choice for vocal nodules, and laryngomicroscopic surgery is for vocal polyps. There are no strong evidences to support it, based on randomized controlled trials, But, it's just a consensus among laryngologist. Considering the pathophysiology of benign vocal cord lesions, cognitive behavioral therapy that corrects the patient's bad voice habits and improves their vocal hygiene could be most important factor for treatment outcomes.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2024

This review article summarizes the main research findings on the presence of anxiety disorders in individuals with bipolar disorder. It examines the prevalence of comorbid anxiety disorders in bipolar disorder, which is generally high. Moreover, it explores the variations in comorbid anxiety across different subtypes of bipolar disorder. The article also investigates the clinical features, treatment, and prognosis associated with comorbid anxiety in bipolar disorder. It reveals that bipolar patients with comorbid anxiety exhibit complex clinical features, worse treatment outcomes, and a poorer prognosis. Given the significant impact of comorbid anxiety on clinical features, treatment outcomes, and prognosis, it is crucial to address this issue when treating individuals with bipolar disorder. Therefore, further research on the treatment of co-occurring anxiety in bipolar disorder patients is warranted.