• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.353-358
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• 2023

Background: Malignant pleural effusion affects many patients with advanced cancer. When chemotherapy or radiotherapy fails to relieve malignant pleural effusion and related symptoms, drainage and pleurodesis can help. Although surgical talc pleurodesis is the most widely used method, Viscum album, which has been recently used in surgical or bedside procedures, has demonstrated significant results and is as effective as talc. This study aimed to determine the most effective agent and procedure. Methods: Between January 2015 and July 2022, chemical pleurodesis was performed in 137 patients with malignant pleural effusion, using a V. album surgical procedure in 48, a V. album bedside procedure in 55, and a talc surgical procedure in 34 patients. We reviewed patients' clinical responses and disease progression after chemical pleurodesis. Results: The success rate was not significantly different among the V. album surgical procedures (91.7%), V. album bedside procedures (83.6%), and talc surgical procedures (91.2%). However, the total drainage amount and tube insertion duration in both Viscum groups were more effective than those in the talc group. Furthermore, the bedside Viscum group showed significantly lower post-pleurodesis pain scores than the other 2 groups. Conclusion: According to our results, talc and V. album can be considered ideal agents for chemical pleurodesis. However, Viscum pleurodesis showed safer outcomes in terms of ensuring quality of life than talc. Additionally, the bedside Viscum group showed significantly lower pain scores than the other groups. Hence, patients for whom surgical procedures are inappropriate can undergo bedside Viscum pleurodesis without diminishing the therapeutic effect.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.74-79
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• 2022

Purpose: Children with nephrotic syndrome may experience disease relapse or aggravation triggered by various viral infections. Limited studies on the clinical implications of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in children with nephrotic syndrome have been published worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on the clinical course of nephrotic syndrome in children. Methods: The medical records of 59 patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who visited our hospital between February and June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Twenty of the total 59 patients with nephrotic syndrome were diagnosed with COVID-19 during the study period. The mean age at the time of the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome and COVID-19 in all 20 patients was 4.6±3.5 and 8.9±3.9 years, respectively. Three patients (15%) were diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome relapse during COVID-19 and the relapse rate was similar to them without COVID-19 (20.5%, 8/39 patients). At the time of the COVID-19 diagnosis, fever (85%) and cough (40%) were the most common symptoms. After the diagnosis of COVID-19, all patients showed improvement with symptomatic treatment, including antipyretic analgesics and cold medicine. None of the critical patients required hospitalization or oral antiviral medications. Conclusions: Despite the use of immunosuppressants, the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in children with nephrotic syndrome were not severe and are expected to be similar to that in the general population. The relapse rate of nephrotic syndrome in children with COVID-19 was also not different from them without COVID-19.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.479-488
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• 2022

Objective : The surgical management of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) caused by petrous apex meningioma (PAM) is still a challenge because of the lesion's deep location and the surrounding complex structures. The authors describe the intradural anterior transpetrosal approach (ATPA) and its effect on the treatment of TN secondary to PAM. Methods : A retrospective analysis of 15 patients with TN secondary to PAM who underwent surgery via the intradural ATPA was conducted. The key techniques, which included drilling off the petrosal apex (PA) and opening the upper wall of Meckel's cave (MC), are described in detail. Results : Total removal of the tumor and complete pain relief (Barrow Neurological Institute I) were achieved in all 15 patients without significant morbidity. Five patients developed new facial numbness postoperatively, which disappeared within three months after surgery. The postoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed temporal lobe swelling in three patients, but no clinical symptoms. One patient had cerebrospinal fluid leakage and was managed with bed rest and temporary lumbar drainage. One patient had an intracranial infection and was treated with antibiotics. By the last follow up, no patients had pain relapse or/and tumor recurrence. It is worth noting that the vascular compression at the root of the trigeminal nerve was found in one patient during the operation. Conclusion : Our experience suggests that drilling off the PA and opening the upper wall of the MC are key elements for a good outcome of the treatment of TN secondary to PAM. The intradural ATPA has the advantages for both tumor resection and pain relief.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was prepared for investigating the clinical features of stroke patients. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 169 patients who were admitted to Dept. of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Won University with a diagnosis of stroke from Jan. 1, 2003 to Dec. 31, 2003. Results : Ischemic stroke(include TIA, 85.2%) was more common than hemorrhagic stroke(14.8%). The incidence in male was 46.7%, in female was 53.3% and the most prevalent age group is over-sixties. Cerebral infarction was most frequently noticed in MCA territory and lacunar-inf., hemorrhage in putamen. Hypertention, the most preceding diseases, followed by diabetes mellitus. The rate of recurrence was 30.18%. Cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage was much occurred in acting. The most patients visited the hospital after 5 days. The most common symptoms in admission time were motor weakness and speech disorder. The complication was mostly urinary tract infection. Physical treatment from onset, in cerebral infarction was 9.14 days and in cerebral hemorrhage was 18.33 days. Conclusions : Our study on CVA patients was similar to previous studies from 1994 to 2002. In most cases, western and oriental treatment and medicine were given synthetically.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was prepared for investigating the clinical features of stroke patients. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 75 patients who were admitted to Department of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Won University with a diagnosis of stroke from Jan. 1, 2005 to Dec. 31, 2005. Results : Ischemic stroke(include TIA, 93.3%) was more common than hemorrhagic stroke(6.7%). The incidence in male was 36.0%, in female was 64.0% and the most prevalent age group is over-sixties. Cerebral infarction was most frequently noticed in MCA-infarction and hemorrhage in putamen & thalamus. Hypertention, the most preceding diseases, followed by diabetes mellitus and CVA. The rate of recurrence was 21.3%. Cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage was much occurred after rising. The most patients visited the hospital within 24 Hours. The most common symptoms in admission time were motor weakness and speech disorder. The complication was mostly urinary tract inflamation. Conclusions : Our study on CVA patients was similar to previous studies from 1994 to 2004. In most cases, western and oriental treatment and medicine were given synthetically.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was prepared for investigating the clinical features of stroke patients. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 102 patients who were admitted to Department of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung-Won University with a diagnosis of stroke from Jan. 1, 2004 to Dec. 31, 2004. Results : Ischemic stroke(include TIA, 82.4%) was more common than hemorrhagic stroke(17.6%). The incidence in male was 41.2%, in female was 17.6% and the most prevalent age group is over-sixties. Cerebral infarction was most frequently noticed in lacunar-infarction and hemorrhage in putamen. Hypertention, the most preceding diseases, followed by diabetes mellitus and CVA. The rate of recurrence was 27.45%. Cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage was much occurred after rising. The most patients visited the hospital within 24 Hours. The most common symptoms in admission time were motor weakness and speech disorder. The complication was mostly mental disorder. Conclusion : Our study on CVA patients was similar to previous studies from 1994 to 2003. In most cases, western and oriental treatment and medicine were given synthetically.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.555-561
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• 2023

A 63-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital with complaints of coldness in the head and right femur, persistent vertigo, dry mouth, vexation, general weakness, anorexia, and hot flashes. After being diagnosed with left-sided ductal carcinoma in 2017 and undergoing partial resection, she was recommended radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy, but she refused and did not receive any treatment. At a checkup in November 2022, the left-sided invasive ductal carcinoma recurred. She underwent partial resection and was scheduled to receive radiotherapy two months later. During hospitalization, the patient received traditional Korean medicine treatment, including Korean herbal medicine (Osuyubujaijung-tang), acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping. Subjective symptom changes were evaluated daily. At discharge, the patient's symptoms improved, and her condition varied with the presence of Aconitum carmichaelii. This study suggests that "Osuyubujaijung-tang" cared the coldness and vertigo caused by "Han-dam (寒痰)" in patients with Soeumin visceral syncope pattern (少陰人 臟厥症) and that A. carmichaelii played a major role in this outcome.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.230-237
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• 2023

A 6-year-old intact male Cane Corso dog weighing 40 kg with a 2-month history of dysuria, dyschezia, anorexia, intermittent panting, and penile discharge presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Jeju National University. Examination revealed a giant paraprostatic cyst (PPC) that occupied a large part of the abdomen and caused displacement of organs. Radiography, ultrasound, and computed tomography (CT) scans confirmed that the PPC had spread to the pelvic regions. Subtotal resection was performed, leaving two sites with PPC remnants. One site was the prostate gland, which communicated with, and adhered to, the PPC; the other site was the pelvic region, where the PPC had spread. The reason for leaving two remnants was that an anatomical approach for complete resection was difficult, and to avoid complications associated with prostatic urethra damage. Routine omentalization and castration were performed. Partial cystectomy was performed because of the presence of a diverticulum-like lesion in the ventral part of the urinary bladder. The patient's clinical symptoms, including dysuria, completely resolved, and voluntary urination was possible 1 day post-operatively. Histopathological examination revealed osseous metaplasia of the PPC. The patient was well-managed and had no post-operative complications or recurrence until day 180 of follow-up.

• Mood & Emotion
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2011

Purpose : Anxiety disorder and depressive disorder are often comorbid with each other, and the comorbidity is associated with poorer psychiatric outcome, resistance to treatment, increased risk for suicide, greater chance for recurrence. We aimed to investigate the comorbidity of anxiety disorder in Korea. Method : Subjects were total of 867 depressed patients recruited CRESCEND-K multicenter trial. We used SCID (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM - IV) to find comorbidity of anxiety disorders in depressed patient. Results : Of 867 patients, total 8.2% had anxiety disorder. Proportion of anxiety disorder Not Otherwise Specified was 3.5%, panic disorder was 1.7%, generalized anxiety disorder was 1.1%, post traumatic stress disorder was 0.9%, obsessive compulsive disorder was 0.6%, social phobia was 0.4%. Conclusion : In this study, anxiety disorder in depression were measured at a low comorbidity rate in compare to previous studies. Selection bias, use of antidepressants at registration, severity of depression symptoms, and point of SICD administration seems to have affected these results. It is probable that comorbidity evaluation would be more precise if shorter, structured interviews such as M. I.N.I.-Plus were used during first clinical interview for depression diagnosis.

• CELLMED
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• v.13 no.14
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• pp.18.1-18.13
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• 2023

Background and objectives: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is recognized as the most prevalent type of vaginal infection, impacting approximately 19-24% of women in their reproductive years. The recurrence rate of BV is significant, negatively impacting the well-being of affected women. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of a polyherbal Unani formulation and metronidazole in treating bacterial vaginosis. Methodology: In this prospective patient blinded standard controlled trial, a total of 40 individuals with a clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis were randomly assigned to receive either an active control treatment (n = 20) or a test drug (n = 20). In the test drug combination of Acacia catechu, Azadirachta indica and Quercus infectoria in tablet (1g) form in the dose of 2 tablets orally twice daily with water was administered for 3 weeks. In the active control standard drug, metronidazole 400 mg tablet, orally twice daily was given for one week. The primary outcome measure was clinical cure; H. negative Amsel's criteria and a reduction in subjective symptoms, while the secondary outcome measure was an improvement in SF-36 quality of life (QOL). Results and conclusion: Both the experimental treatment and the metronidazole demonstrated a significant clinical cure for bacterial vaginosis as well as an increase in health-related quality of life. Based on these findings, it appears that the test medication is a potent Unani formulation for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. A well conducted trial with a bigger sample size is required to corroborate these findings.