• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.190-195
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• 2008

Objective : There have been numerous follow-up studies of patients who had ruptured or unruptured intracranial aneurysms treated by wrapping technique using various materials have been reported. Our objective was to ascertain whether our particular wrapping technique using the temporalis muscle provides protection from rebleeding and any aneurysm configuration changes in follow-up studies. Methods : Clinical presentation, the location and shape of the aneurysm, outcomes at discharge and last follow-up, and any aneurysm configuration changes on last angiographic study were analyzed retrospectively in 21 patients. Reinforcement was acquired by clipping the wrapped temporalis muscle. Wrapping and clipping after incomplete clipping was also done. Follow-up loss and non-angiographic follow-up patient groups were excluded in this study. Results : The mean age was 53 years (range 29-67), and 15 patients were female. Among 21 patients, 10 patients had ruptured aneurysms (48%). Aneurysms in 21 patients were located in the anterior circulation. Aneurysm shapes were broad neck form (14 cases), fusiform (1 case), and bleb to adjacent vessel (6 cases). Five patients were treated by clipping the wrapped temporalis, and 16 patients by wrapping after partial clipping. The mean Glasgow coma scale (GCS) at admission was 14.2. The mean Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) at discharge was 4.8, and 18 patients were grade 5. The mean period between initial angiography and last angiography was 18.5 months (range 8-44). Aneurysm size was not increased in any of these patients and configuration also did not change. There was no evidence of rebleeding in any of these treated aneurysms. Conclusion : Our study results show that wrapping technique, using the temporalis muscle and aneurysm clip(s), for intracranial aneurysm treatment provides protection from rebleeding or regrowth.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 1988

Because carcinoma of breast is known to readily metastasize to the bone, early detection of metastasis spread is very important. Two hundred thirty four consecutive patients who had $^{99m}Tc-MDP$ bone scans prior to treatment and during the follow up period were studied retrospectively to determine the contribution of the scans to staging, treatment and follow up examination between Jan. 1980 and Apr. 1987 in Seoul National University Hospital. 1) Positive bone scan rates in initial clinical stage I, II, III and IV were 0%, 4%, 14% and 53%, respectively. 2) The higher clinical stage is, the more cumulative risk of conversion to positive bone scan is during the same follow up period. 3) Conversion rate to positive bone scan in patients with lymph node metastasis is higher (50%) than those without metastasis (18%) (P < 0.001). We concluded that the bone scan in primary breast cancer was very useful to evaluate initial clinical stage and to perform the follow up examination.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.404-410
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• 2006

Objectives: This study examined the natural history of symptomatic patients who did or did not display abnormal results on nerve conduction studies (NCS). Methods: Forty hundred fifty adults were selected among a total of 578 residents who participated in the health examination in a rural Korean district. A symptom questionnaire and NCS were used to diagnose ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). There were 6.4% of the subjects with UNE, 5.1 % of the subjects showed symptoms without a NCS, and 84.2% of the subjects who were asymptomatic. One year later, 20 symptomatic limbs with an abnormality on the ulnar NCS and 22 symptomatic limbs without any abnormality in the ulnar NCS were enrolled in a follow-up study. The natural history of UNE was evaluated by examining the changes in the clinical and electrodiagnostic examinations. Results: The 1-year follow-up of the enrolled limbs found that for the symptomatic limbs with an abnormality on the NCS, the degree of severe of the clinical grade changed from 20% to 10%. In contrast, for the symptomatic limbs that were without any abnormality in the NCS, the change of the severe degree of the clinical grade was from 0% to 18.2%. Also, for the electrodiagnostic change, only symptomatic limbs without NCS abnormalities showed significant changes in motor latency, amplitude and conduction velocity at the 1-year follow-up. Conclusions: The 1-year follow-up study revealed symptomatic limbs that were without any abnormality on the ulnar NCS were more likely to progress than the symptomatic limbs with an abnormality on the ulnar NCS.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.259-264
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• 2008

Objective : Total laminectomy (TL) is an effective surgical technique for the treatment of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) along multiple levels. However, kyphosis and probable neurological deterioration have been frequently reported after laminectomy. We analyzed the changes in the cervical curvature after TL and subsequent changes in neurological status. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the records of 14 patients who underwent TL for the treatment of cervical OPLL between Jan. 1998 and Dec. 2003. TL was selected according to the previously determined criteria. The curvature of the cervical spine was visualized on a lateral cervical spine X-ray and measured using Ishihara's Curvature Index (CI) before the operation and at the last follow-up examination. Perioperative neurological status was estimated using the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score and the Improvement Rate (IR) at the same time as the images were evaluated. Results : The mean age of the patients was 57 years, the male/female ratio was 10:4, and the mean follow-up period was 41 months. The mean number of OPLL was 4.9, and the mean number of operated levels was also 4.9. The CI decreased after TL (p=0002), which was indicative of a kyphotic change. However, this kyphotic change showed no correlation with the length of the follow-up period, number of operated levels and preoperative CI. Neurological examination at the last follow-up showed an improved neurological status in all patients (p=0.001). There was no neurological deterioration in any case during the follow-up period. Moreover, there was no correlation between IR and the degree of kyphotic change. Postoperative complications, such as C5 radiculopathy and epidural bleeding, resolved spontaneously without neurological sequelae. Conclusion : Kyphotic change was observed in all but one patient who underwent TL for the treatment of cervical OPLL. However, we did not find any contributing factors to kyphosis or evidence of postoperative neurological deterioration.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the skeletal relapse pattern of the mandibular prognathic patients after mandibular set back surgery by sagittal split ramus osteotomy. The horizontal and vertical position of the cephalometric points were measured before, after surgery and after one-year follow up period. The next, the positional change of the proximal and distal mandibular segment were evaluated respectively. The obtained results were as follows; 1. The horizontal and vertical position of Cd was not changed before and after surgery, and it was maintained its original position during the observation periods. 2. As the mandibular prognathism of the patients was severe before surgery, the more skeletal relapse tendency was observed during follow-up period(p<0.05). 3. As the horizontal positional change of the mandible which was obtained by mandibular set-back surgery was large, the more horizontal relapse tendency was observed during follow-up period(p<0.05). 4. The corpus axis angle decreased by sagittal split ramus osteotomy(p<0.01), but it was kept its reoriented position during follow-up period. 5. During the follow-up period after mandibular set-back by sagittal split ramus osteotomy, the forward relapse of mandible correlated with not only the forward rotation of the proximal segment but also the forward movement of the distal segment(p<0.05).

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.64-68
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of Ludloff osteotomy for treatment of hallux valgus with regard to patient satisfaction and clinical and radiological results. Materials and Methods: 43 feet of 28 patients underwent Ludloff osteotomy between January 2003 and August 2003. 21 patients (32 feet) who were available for follow up for more than one year were enrolled in this study. Average follow up period was 16 months. All patients were female and the average age was 51 years ranging 28 years to 72 years. Patient satisfaction was assessed and VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) was used for subjective outcome, AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) score and presence of metatarsalgia were used for clinical outcome, and hallux valgus angle and intermetatarsal angle were used for radiological outcome assessment. Results: Patient satisfaction regarding cosmesis was excellent in 6 cases, good in 21 cases, fair in 4 cases and poor in 1 case. VAS was improved from preoperative 6 points to postoperative 2 points and AOFAS score was improved from preoperative 53 points to postoperative 82 points. Metatarsalgia was observed in 18 cases preoperatively and 9 cases postoperatively. HVA and IMA were 35.8 and 15.2 degrees preoperatively, 12.5 and 6.6 degrees at 3 months follow up, and 13.2 and 7.1 degrees at last follow up respectively. At the last follow up, loss of angle of correction for HVA was 0.7 degrees and for IMA was 0.5 degrees. Conclusion: Ludloff osteotomy is an appropriate surgery of moderate to severe hallux valgus.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.50-59
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was conducted from January to March, 2004 to examine the effect of telephone follow-up on the performance of self-care in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and on role stress of family caregivers. Method: Research design was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. Seventy-two participants were assigned to either the experimental group (18 cancer patients, 18 family caregivers) or the control group (18 cancer patients, 18 family caregivers). Data were collected before and after the intervention and were analyzed with paired t-test, t-test, Mann-Whitney U Test & Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test. Results: Performance of self-care in the experimental group undergoing telephone follow-up was significantly higher than that of the control group (t=8.016, p=0.000). Role stress of family members in the experimental group was also significantly higher than that of the control group (t=2.133, p=0.042). Conclusion: This results suggest that the telephone follow-up is effective for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and their family caregivers. Telephone follow-up can be recommended as an effective nursing intervention for self-care performance in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and to reduce role stress of family caregivers.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.81-90
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• 2009

Objectives : To analyze the therapeutic outcomes of back pain modalities in patients with disc herniation according to the change of Magnetic Resonanse Imaging(MRI) whom were treated with herbal medicine, chuna, acupuncture, bee-venom acupuncture. Methods : Clinical outcomes of 35 patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation by MRI examination, treated conservatively, were analyzed according to MRI follow-up change. Patients underwent MRI examaintion at baseline and after 24th week of treatment. Patients are divided into three groups ; improved, unchanged, worsened. 35 patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated with chuna therapy, acupuncture, bee-venom acupuncture once a week and took herbal medicine after a meal two times daily. The patients' clinical outcomes were assessed at baseline, 12th week, 24th week by Visual analogue scale(VAS), Oswestry disability index(ODI). Results : 1. MRI follow-up exams on regression of disc herniation resulted on 42.86% of cases by conservative treatment. 2. VAS(low back pain and sciatica) and ODI of disability of daily activities showed significant decrease in "improved" and "unchanged" groups compared to "worsened" group(P<0.05). 3. VAS(low back pain and sciatica) and ODI change after treatment did not show any relationship with MRI follow-up change(P<0.05). Conclusions : This study suggests that "improved" and "unchanged" groups compared to "worsened" group on MRI follow-up in patients with lumbar disc herniation were more effective when treated with herbal medicine, chuna therapy, acupuncture, bee-venom acupuncture. MRI follow-up change does not affect clinical changes in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2000

Cyclic vomiting syndrome(CVS) is a disorder of unknown etiology that is characterized by its clinical pattern of intermittent episodes of severe vomiting, similar in time of onset and duration, with no symptoms during the intervening period. By definition, CVS is an idiopathic disorder that requires exclusionary laboratory testing. Not only can it be mimicked by many specific disorders, eg, surgical, neurologic, endocrine, metabolic, renal, but within idiopathic CVS there may be specific subgroups that have different mechanisms. It has been reported that CVS usually begins in toddlers and resolves during adolescence. Migraine is also self-limiting episodic condition of children and the clinical features of migraine and CVS show considerable similarity. It is proposed that CVS is a condition related to migraine. This paper reports clinical courses of long term follow-up and reversible EEG changes in three patients whose history included CVS. Clinical situations of attack interval, duration and associated symptoms had changed variablely in each patients through long term follow-up period. Cyclic vomiting subsided in two cases. Abnormal delta activity was seen during episodes and resolved at follow-up, when the patient asymptomatic. The brain wave changes support the interpretation of CVS as a migraine variant.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3455-3460
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• 2012

Objectives: To report the prevalence of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude high squamous intraepithelial lesions and to determine the possible association of Pap test results with high-risk human papillomavirus and high squamous intraepithelial lesions in women from Duhok, Iraq. Design: A prospective, observational study was conducted between January 2005 and December 2011. Overall, 596 women with a cervicovaginal Pap test showing atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and 93 atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude high squamous intraepithelial lesion for whom pathologic follow-up was available were studied. Follow-up consisted of repeat cytology, colposcopy and histology. High risk human papillomavirus DNA testing was performed on exfoliated cervical cells from 106 women, using conventional PCR after at least 36 months from the initial Pap smear. Results: Significantly high proportions of both atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (87.9%) and atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude high squamous intraepithelial lesion (62.4%) demonstrated no significant lesion on subsequent follow up. Low squamous intraepithelial lesions were observed in 1.7% of cases of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and in 5.4% of atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude high squamous intraepithelial lesion. High squamous intraepithelial lesion was demonstrated in 0.8% and 16.1% respectively. In the latter there was also one case of invasive carcinoma. High-risk HPV DNA was demonstrated in 40% of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and 57.1% of atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude high squamous intraepithelial lesions. Conclusions: Since both atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude high squamous intraepithelial lesion identify patients who are at an increased risk for the development of high squamous intraepithelial lesions and a considerable percentage harbor high risk-HPV, both should be retained as diagnostic categories and patients warrant a diligent follow up and testing for high risk-HPV DNA. Colposcopic evaluation and biopsy, when indicated, are a must.