• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.215-223
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• 2022

Objective : This retrospective study investigated the clinical and angiographic characteristics of ruptured true posterior communicating artery (PCoA) aneurysms in comparison with junctional PCoA aneurysms presenting with a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Methods : The medical records and radiological data of 93 consecutive patients who underwent three-dimensional rotational angiography and surgical or endovascular treatment for a ruptured junctional or true PCoA aneurysm over an 8-year period were examined. Results : The maximum diameter of the ruptured true PCoA aneurysm (n=13, 14.0%) was significantly smaller than that of the ruptured junctional PCoA aneurysms (n=80, 4.45±1.44 vs. 7.68±3.36 mm, p=0.001). In particular, the incidence of very small aneurysms <4 mm was 46.2% (six of 13 patients) in the ruptured true PCoA aneurysm group, yet only 2.5% (two of 80 patients) in the ruptured junctional PCoA aneurysm group. Meanwhile, the diameter of the PCoA was significantly larger in the true PCoA aneurysm group than that in the junctional PCoA aneurysm group (1.90±0.57 vs. 1.15±0.49 mm, p<0.001). In addition, the ipsilateral PCoA/P1 ratio was significantly larger in the true PCoA aneurysm group than that in the group of a junctional PCoA aneurysm (mean PCoA/P1 ratio±standard deviation, 2.67±1.22 vs. 1.14±0.88; p<0.001). No between-group difference was identified for the modified Fisher grade, clinical grade at admission, and 3-month modified Rankin Scale score. Conclusion : A true PCoA aneurysm was found to be associated with a larger PCoA and ruptured at a smaller diameter than a junctional PCoA aneurysm. In particular, the incidence of a ruptured aneurysm with a very small diameter <4 mm was significantly higher among the patients with a true PCoA aneurysm.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.301-306
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• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common complication that increases mortality and morbidity in older patients. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of post-cholecystectomy delirium in older patients. Methods: This retrospective study included 201 patients aged > 75 years who underwent cholecystectomy for acute or chronic cholecystitis between January 2016 and December 2019. Patients were divided into the POD (n = 21) and non-POD (n = 180) groups, and their demographic features and clinical results were compared. Results: The mean patient age was 78.88 years; the female/male ratio was 44.8%/55.2%. Laparoscopic surgery was performed in 93.5% of patients. The univariate analysis showed that lower body mass index (BMI), immobilized admission status, neuropsychiatric disease history, preoperative intervention (percutaneous drainage), high C-reactive protein, hypoalbuminemia, neutrophilia, hypo-/hyperkalemia, and longer operative time were more frequently observed in the POD group. The multivariate analysis showed that lower BMI (odds ratio [OR], 2.796; p = 0.024), neuropsychiatric disease history (OR, 3.019; p = 0.049), hyperkalemia (OR, 5.972; p = 0.007), and longer operative time (OR, 1.011; p = 0.013) were significant risk factors for POD. Conclusions: POD was associated with inflammation degree, general condition, poor nutritional status, electrolyte imbalance, and stressful conditions. Recognizing risk factors requiring multidisciplinary team approaches is important to prevent and treat POD.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.343-347
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• 1992

Background: There are several causes that the total destruction of unilateral lung can occur. Pulmonary tuberculosis of these causes may lead to destruction through chronic inflammation and fibrosis. In such circumstances, the left to right ratio is supposed to be different. We performed the study with 224 cases for total destruction of unilateral lung, who were admitted at National Kongju Tuberculosis Hospital for recent 4 years. Method: On admission chest film, radiologic pattern was classified into 4 types. And we analyzed patients' age, sex, duration of illness, sputum AFB smear and culture. Result: 1) The male to female ratio was 2:1 and 74% of the patients were between 31 and 60 years of age. 2) One hundred and ninety eight cases(88%) had the duration of illness over 3 years. Namely, most of patients had long history. 3) Sputum AFB smear and/or culture were positive mostly (80%). 4) As for the radiologic pattern, 181 cases (81%) had the total destroyed lung in left and partial lesion in right lung, 31 cases (14%) total destroyed lung in right and partial lesion in left lung, 11 cases (5%) total destroyed lung in left only, and 1 case total destroyed lung in right only. 5) In the radiologic pattern, there is no significant difference in terms of age, sex, duration of illness and sputum examination. Conclusion: From these results, we found that the total destruction of unilateral lung in pulmonary tuberculosis occurred generally in the left side.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 2021

Objectives : Delirium is a temporary brain dysfunction and systemic inflammation is important factor in its pathophysiology. Whether the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), one of the inflammatory markers, can be used as an inflammatory marker in delirium patients was investigated in comparison with C-reactive protein (CRP). Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who were referred for consultation for delirium at hospital for one year. The NLR and CRP values at admission and delirium status were divided into the medical and the surgical treatment group, and the interaction between them was analyzed through repeated measures ANOVA. Results : NLR was maintained without significant difference before and after delirium in the medical treatment group and the surgical treatment group, but CRP decreased in the medical treatment group and increased in the surgical treatment group during delirium, showing a significant interaction. Conclusions : In delirium patients, the NLR remained constant, but the CRP differed according to the treatment group and the delirium state. This suggests the possibility that NLR could be used complementary to CRP as an inflammatory marker in delirium patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.73 no.4
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• pp.224-230
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• 2012

Background: We evaluated the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV), defined as ventilator care for ${\geq}21$ days, who were admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital in Korea. Methods: During the study period, a total of 2,644 patients were admitted to the medical ICU, and 136 patients (5.1%) were enrolled between 2005 and 2010. Results: The mean age of the patients was $61.3{\pm}14.5$ years, and 94 (69.1%) were male. The ICU and six-month cumulative mortality rates were 45.6 and 58.8%, respectively. There were 96 patients with tracheostomy placement after admission and their mean period from admission to the day of tracheostomy was $21.3{\pm}8.4$ days. Sixty-three patients (46.3%) were successfully weaned from ventilator care. Of the ICU survivors (n=74), 34 patients (45.9%) were transferred to other hospitals (not university hospitals). Two variables (thrombocytopenia [hazard ratio (HR), 1.964; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.225~3.148; p=0.005] and the requirement for vasopressors [HR, 1.822; 95% CI, 1.111~2.986; p=0.017] on day 21) were found to be independent factors of survival on based on the Cox proportional hazard model. Conclusion: We found that patients requiring PMV had high six-month cumulative mortality rates, and that two clinical variables (measured on day 21), thrombocytopenia and requirement for vasopressors, may be associated with prognostic indicators.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical effectiveness of Korean medical combination treatment for cervical disc herniation. Methods : This is an observational study. 102 patients diagnosed with cervical disc herniation by MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) were investigated from January, 2015 through to December, 2015 at Daejeon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine. They were sorted according to the distribution of sex, age, causing factor, the period of disease, admission day and pain area. All patients were treated with acupuncture, Chuna treatment, and herbal therapy and physical therapy during the admission period. After treatment, NRS (Numeric Rating Scale), NDI (Neck Disability Index) and EQ-5D were assessed to evaluate the treatment efficacy. Results : There were more females than Males with a ratio of 1 : 1.37, the age of fifty was the most with 35.29 %, reason unknown was the most with 72.55 % and the subacute stage was the most with 38.24 %. According to disc herniation types, patients with protruded disc types were the most with 66.67 % and a lesion of C5/6 was the most with 41.18 %. For patients diagnosed with cervical disc herniation, neck and shoulder pain NRS decreased from $6.43{\pm}1.77$ to $3.96{\pm}1.96$(p<0.001) and radiating pain NRS decreased from $5.64{\pm}1.96$ to $3.57{\pm}1.88$ (p<0.001). NDI decreased from $41.72{\pm}14.04$ to $30.84{\pm}15.34$(p<0.001), and the EQ-5D index increased from $0.68{\pm}0.17$ to $0.79{\pm}0.14$(p<0.001) after treating cervical disc patients. Conclusion : Korean medical combination treatment might be effective in decreasing pain and raising the life quality of patients with cervical disc herniation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.4
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• pp.289-294
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• 2016

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value of Charlson's weighted index of comorbidities (WIC) in patients with prolonged acute mechanical ventilation (PAMV, ventilator care ${\geq}96$ hours). Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 299 Korean PAMV patients who were admitted in a medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital between 2008 and 2013. Survivors were defined as patients who survived for 60 days after ICU admission. Results: The patients' mean age was $65.1{\pm}14.1$ years and 70.6% were male. The mean ICU and hospital length of stay was $21.9{\pm}19.7$ and $39.4{\pm}39.1$ days, respectively. In addition, the 60-day mortality rate after ICU admission was 35.5%. The mean WIC was $2.3{\pm}1.8$, with significant differences between nonsurvivors and survivors ($2.7{\pm}2.1$ vs. $2.1{\pm}1.7$, p<0.05). The area under the curve of receiver-operating-characteristics curve for WIC was 0.593 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.523-0.661; p<0.05). Based on Kaplan-Meier curves of 60-day survival, WIC ${\geq}5$ had statistically lower survival than WIC <5 (logrank test, p<0.05). In a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, WIC ${\geq}5$ was associated with poor prognosis (hazard ratio, 1.901; 95% CI, 1.140-3.171; p<0.05). The mortality rate of patients with WIC ${\geq}5$ was 54.2%. Conclusion: Our study showed a WIC score ${\geq}5$ might be helpful in predicting 60-day mortality in PAMV patients.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.107-113
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• 1998

Objectives : To evaluate the relation of onset-age and plasma level of ${\beta}$-endorphin, Ethanol, ${\beta}$-endorphin, cortisol and blood glucose were compared in 48 male alcoholics and 29 normal controls Methods : Alcoholics are divided into two groups by onset-age of alcoholism. Blood samples were obtained before and after 0.75gm/kg of ethanol consumption at the 7th admission day. Results : 1) The ratio of onset-age before 25 years to after 25 years of the patient group was 2 to 3. 2) There was no significant difference in age at admission between two patient groups. 3) There was no significant difference in change of plasma ethanol levels among three groups. 4) There was no significant difference in change of plasma ${\beta}$-endorphin levels among three groups. 5) There was no significant difference in change of plasma cortisol level among three groups. 6) There was no significant difference in change of fasting blood sugar level among two patient groups.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.102-106
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• 1998

Objectives : To evaluate the relation of familial history of alcoholism and plasma level of ${\beta}$-endorphin, ethanol, ${\beta}$-endorphin, cortisol and blood glucose were compared in 48 male alcoholics and 29 normal controls. Methods : Subjects are divided into two groups by family history of alcoholism. Blood samples were obtained before and after 0.75mg/kg of ethanol consumption at 7th admission day. Results : 1) The ratio of family history positive to negative of the patient group was 2 to 1. 2) The age at admission of positive family history group was younger than negative group. 3) There was no significant difference in change of plasma ethanol level among three groups. 4) There was no significant difference in change of plasma ${\beta}$-endorphin level among three groups. 5) There was no significant difference in change of plasma cortisol level among three groups. 6) There was no significant difference in change of fasting blood sugar level between two patient groups.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2000

The clinical study was carried out the 41 patients with conversion disorder who were treated in Dae Jeon University Oriental Hospital from 26 september 1998 to 21 september 2000.The results were summarized as follows.1. The ratio of male and female was 4:37 and in the age distribution, the highest frequence was 40s, in descending order over 50s, 30s, 20s, 10s and mental attack was the most inducing factor.2. In distribution of the period of the clinical history. within one day was the highest percentage and in admission period most of the patients were from four days to seven days.3. In symptoms and signs, physical symptoms were more than mental symptoms, physical symptoms had many muscle-skeleton-system symptoms and they were in descending order general body weakness. headache, anorexia, chest discomfort, dyspepsia, dizziness, four extremities numbness, insomnia, dysarthria, anxiety, four extremities tremor. palpitation. nausea, vomiting, facial numbness.4. In classification of Four Human coporeal constitution the number of patients, Sho-Eum-In(少陰人) was remarked mostly and most of female patients had no past history of the conversion disorder.5. In distribution of the prescription, drugs of regulating gi such as BUNSIMGIEUM(分心氣飮) were many, in descending order drugs of growing heart and warming gall bladder such as ONDAMTANGGAMI(溫膽湯加味), drugs of maintaining patency for the flow of gi such as CHUNGGANSOYOSAN(淸肝逍遙散), drugs of decomposing food and asending gi such as PYUNGJINGUNBITANG(平陳健脾湯), drugs of storing blood and relaxing the mind such as SAMULGUIBITANG(四物歸脾湯). drugs of removing sputum and cooling heart such as CHUNGSIMDODAMTANG 淸心導痰湯).6. In distribution of the treatments, the group of drug and acupuncture and aroma-therapy was many, in acup uncture TAEGUKCHIMBUP(太極針法) was mainly used. in therapy inhalation type of Lavender and Rosewood was many and the type of Peppermint and Rosemary massaging epigastric-chest, and neck was many.7. In distribution of the treatment result, in 15 patients(36.6%) symptoms were eliminated from four to seven days, in 13 patients(31.7%) symptoms were not changed. in 12 patients(29.3%) symptoms were eliminated from two to three days. in 1 patients(2.4%) symptoms were eliminated whin one day.