• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.6
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• pp.681-689
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• 2023

Objective : Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a condition characterized by bleeding in the subarachnoid space, often resulting from the rupture of a cerebral aneurysm. Delayed cerebral ischemia caused by vasospasm is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in SAH patients, and inflammatory markers such as systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), systemic inflammatory index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and derived NLR (dNLR) have shown potential in predicting clinical vasospasm and outcomes in SAH patients. This article aims to investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers and cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmatic SAH (aSAH) and evaluate the predictive value of various indices, including SIRI, SII, NLR, and dNLR, in predicting clinical vasospasm. Methods : A retrospective analysis was performed on a cohort of 96 patients who met the inclusion criteria out of a total of 139 patients admitted Trakya University Hospital with a confirmed diagnosis of aSAH between January 2013 and December 2021. Diagnostic procedures, neurological examinations, and laboratory tests were performed to assess the patients' condition. The Student's t-test compared age variables, while the chi-square test compared categorical variables between the non-vasospasm (NVS) and vasospasm (VS) groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of laboratory parameters, calculating the area under the ROC curve, cut-off values, sensitivity, and specificity. A significance level of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results : The study included 96 patients divided into two groups : NVS and VS. Various laboratory parameters, such as NLR, SII, and dNLR, were measured daily for 15 days, and statistically significant differences were found in NLR on 7 days, with specific cut-off values identified for each day. SII showed a significant difference on day 9, while dNLR had significant differences on days 2, 4, and 9. Graphs depicting the values of these markers for each day are provided. Conclusion : Neuroinflammatory biomarkers, when used alongside radiology and scoring scales, can aid in predicting prognosis, determining severity and treatment decisions for aSAH, and further studies with larger patient groups are needed to gain more insights.

• Journal of Neurocritical Care
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2018

Background: At most centers, general anesthesia (GA) has been preferred for endovascular treatment (EVT) of ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIAs). In this study, we analyzed procedural results, clinical outcomes, and follow-up angiographic findings for patients undergoing EVT for RIA under local anesthesia (LA) with conscious sedation (CS). Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 308 consecutive patients who underwent EVT for RIAs at a single institution between June 2009 and February 2017. EVT under LA with CS was considered for all patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, regardless of Hunt and Hess (HH) scale score. Results: EVT was performed for 320 aneurysms in 308 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhages. The mean patient age was $55.5{\pm}12.6$ years. Moderate (III) and poor (IV, V) HH grades were observed in 75 (24.4%) and 77 patients (25%), respectively. Complete occlusion immediately after EVT was achieved for 270 (84.4%) of 320 aneurysms. Thromboembolic complications and intraprocedural ruptures occurred in 25 (7.8%) and 14 cases (4.3%), respectively. The morbidity rate at discharge (as defined by a modified Rankin scale score of 3 or greater) was 27.3% (84/308), while the mortality rate was 11.7% (36/308). Follow-up angiographic results were available for 210 (68.1%) of 308 patients. Recanalization was observed in 64 (29.3%) of 218 aneurysms in 210 patients. Conclusion: Based on our experience, EVT for RIAs under LA with CS was feasible, regardless of the clinical grade of the subarachnoid hemorrhage. Complication rates and follow-up angiographic results were also comparable to those observed when GA was used to perform the procedure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.94-102
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• 2024

Objective : The spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains a significant cause of mortality and morbidity throughout the world. The purpose of this retrospective study is to develop multiple models for predicting ICH outcomes using machine learning (ML). Methods : Between January 2014 and October 2021, we included ICH patients identified by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging and treated with surgery. At the 6-month check-up, outcomes were assessed using the modified Rankin Scale. In this study, four ML models, including Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree C5.0, Artificial Neural Network, Logistic Regression were used to build ICH prediction models. In order to evaluate the reliability and the ML models, we calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). Results : We identified 71 patients who had favorable outcomes and 156 who had unfavorable outcomes. The results showed that the SVM model achieved the best comprehensive prediction efficiency. For the SVM model, the AUC, accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, PLR, NLR, and DOR were 0.91, 0.92, 0.92, 0.93, 11.63, 0.076, and 153.03, respectively. For the SVM model, we found the importance value of time to operating room (TOR) was higher significantly than other variables. Conclusion : The analysis of clinical reliability showed that the SVM model achieved the best comprehensive prediction efficiency and the importance value of TOR was higher significantly than other variables.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1747-1753
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• 2013

Background: It is projected that low and middle-income countries will bear a major burden of tobacco related morbidity and mortality, yet, only limited information is available on the determinants of smoking initiation among youth in Africa. This study aimed to assess the determinants of smoking initiation and susceptibility to future smoking among a population of high school school students in Lagos, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Baseline data from an intervention study designed to assess the effect of an anti-smoking awareness program on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of adolescents was analyzed. The survey was carried out in six randomly selected public and private secondary schools in local government areas in Lagos state, Nigeria. A total of 973 students completed self-administered questionnaires on smoking initiation, health related knowledge and attitudes towards smoking, susceptibility to future smoking and other factors associated with smoking. Results: Of the respondents, 9.7% had initiated smoking tobacco products with the predominant form being cigarettes (7.3%). Males (OR: 2.77, 95%CI: 1.65-4.66) and those with more pro-smoking attitudes (OR: 1.44, 95%CI: 1.34-1.54) were more likely to have initiated smoking. Those with parents and friends who are smokers were 3.47 (95%CI: 1.50-8.05) and 2.26 (95%CI: 1.27-4.01) times more likely to have initiated smoking. Non-smoking students, in privately owned schools (OR: 5.08), with friends who smoke (5.09), with lower knowledge (OR: 0.87) and more pro-smoking attitudes (OR 1.13) were more susceptible to future smoking. In addition, respondents who had been sent to purchase cigarettes by an older adult (OR: 3.68) were also more susceptible to future smoking. Conclusions: Being male and having parents who smoke are predictors of smoking initiation among these students. Consistent with findings in other countries, peers not only influence smoking initiation but also influence smoking susceptibility among youth in this African setting. Prevention programs designed to reduce tobacco use among in-school youth should take these factors into consideration. In line with the recommendations of article 16 of the WHO FCTC, efforts to enforce the ban on the sales of cigarettes to minors should be also emphasised.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.133-173
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• 2011

Since mid-1960s the reports from the Surgeon General, the World Health Organization, and other health experts state that there is no risk-free level exposure to smoking and secondhand smoke. Tobacco smoke is made up of more than 7,000 chemicals. Hundreds are toxic, and at least 70 are carcinogens. The chemicals in tobacco smoke reach smoker's lungs quickly every time smoker inhale causing damages immediately. Inhaling even the smallest amount of tobacco smoke can also damage smoker's DNA, which can lead to cancers. Smoking is responsible for more than 87% of lung cancers, but there are a host of other chronic diseases directly related to exposure to tobacco smoke. It's also a major cause of heart disease, stroke, aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease and most of the other diseases. In the United States, each year with more than from 440,000 to 520,000 deaths caused by smoking and exposure to involuntary smoke. They conclude that smoking is the single most important source of preventable morbidity and mortality. The United States of America have about 60-year history of tobacco litigation. Tobacco litigation has been an important tool in tobacco control strategies aimed at limiting the activities of tobacco companies and providing redress to people who have become ill as a result of their use of tobacco products. Tobacco litigation is a kind of tort litigation. Quite often, as in the asbestos and other mass tort litigation episodes, tobacco litigation can play an educational role, warning the public about the magnitude of health risks that might otherwise be less clearly perceived. Tobacco litigation allows smokers, their families or other victims of smoking to sue tobacco companies in order to be compensated for the harm they have suffered. Potential benefits of tobacco litigation include compensation for smoking-related damages, strengthening regulatory activity, publicity, documents disclosure and changing tobacco industry behavior. And also tobacco litigation can limit the political activities of tobacco industry, protect human rights of smokers and non-smokers, increase burden to tobacco price-up and enhance the effects of law and politics in public health.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.662-668
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• 2000

Background: Many recent results of clinical trials show that pre-operative concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection could increase the survival of N2 positive stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. This study was performed to assess the feasibility, toxicity, and affect rates of concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection in N2 positive stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. Material and Method: Thirty-one patients who underwent preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for N2 positive stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer from May 1997 to April 1999 were entered into the study. Mean age was 61 yrs(43∼70 yrs), There were 24 men and 7 women. The confirmation of N2 disease were achieved through mediastinoscopic biopsy(24) and CT scans(7). Induction was achieved by two cycles of cisplatin and etoposide(EP) plus concurrent chest radiotherapy to 45 Gy. Resections were done at 3 weeks after the complection of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Resections were performed in 23 patients, excluding 5 refusals and 3 distant metastasis. Result: All patients were compled the thoracic radiotherapy except one who had distant metastasis. Twenty three patients were completed the planned 2 cycles of EP chemotherapy, and 8 patients were received only 1 cycle for severe side effects(6), refusal(1), and distant metastasis(1). There was one postoperative mortality, and the cause of death was ARDS. Three patients who had neutropenic fever and one patient who had radiation pneumonitis were required admission and treatment. Esophagitis was the most common acute side effect, but relatively well-tolerated in most patients. The complection rate of concurrent chemoradiotherapy was 74%, resection rate was 71%, pathologic complete remission rate was 13.6%, and pathologic down-staging rate was 68%. Conclusion: Morbidity related to each treatment was acceptable and many of the patients have benefited down staging of its disease. Further prospective, preferably randomized, clinical trials of larger scale may be warranted to confirm the actual benefit of preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgical resection in N2-positive stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.891-900
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• 2021

Objective : Vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm (VADA) is a very rare subtype of intracranial aneurysms; when ruptured, it is associated with significantly high rates of morbidity and mortality. Despite several discussions and debates, the optimal treatment for VADA has not yet been established. In the last 10 years, flow diverter devices (FDD) have emerged as a challenging and new treatment method, and various clinical and radiological results have been reported about their safety and effectiveness. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results with the use of FDD in the treatment of unruptured VADA. Methods : We retrospectively evaluated the data of all patients with unruptured VADA treated with FDD between January 2018 and February 2021 at our hybrid operating room. Nine patients with unruptured VADA, deemed hemodynamically unstable, were treated with FDD. Among other parameters, the technical feasibility of the procedure, procedure-related complications, angiographic results, and clinical outcomes were evaluated. Results : Successful FDD deployment was achieved in all cases, and the immediate follow-up angiography showed intra-aneurysmal contrast stasis with parent artery preservation. A temporary episode of facial numbness and palsy was noted in one patient; however, the symptoms had completely disappeared when followed up at the outpatient clinic 2 weeks after the procedure. The 3-6 months follow-up angiography (n=9) demonstrated complete/near-complete obliteration of the aneurysm in seven patients, and partial obliteration and segmental occlusion in one patient each. In the patient who achieved only partial obliteration, there was a sac 13 mm in size, and there was no change in the 1-year follow-up angiography. In the patient with segmental occlusion, the cause could not be determined. The clinical outcome was modified Rankin Scale 0 in all patients. Conclusion : Our preliminary study using FDD to treat hemodynamically unstable unruptured VADA showed that FDD is safe and effective. Our study has limitations in that the number of cases is small, and it is not a prospective study. However, we believe that the study contributes to evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of FDD in the treatment of unruptured VADA.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.11
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• pp.366-370
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• 2018

Purpose: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important diseases that cause significant mortality and morbidity in young children. Data on TB transmission from an infected child are limited. Herein, we report a case of disseminated TB in a child and conducted a contact investigation among exposed individuals. Methods: A 4-year-old child without Bacille Calmette-$Gu{\acute{e}}rin$ vaccination was diagnosed as having culture-proven disseminated TB. The child initially presented with symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, and nosocomial and kindergarten exposures were reported. The exposed individuals to the index case were divided into 3 groups, namely household, nosocomial, or kindergarten contacts. Evaluation was performed following the Korean guidelines for TB. Kindergarten contacts were further divided into close or casual contacts. Chest radiography and tuberculin skin test or interferon-gamma-releasing assay were performed for the contacts. Results: We examined 327 individuals (3 household, 10 nosocomial, and 314 kindergarten contacts), of whom 18 (5.5%), the brother of the index patient, and 17 kindergarten children were diagnosed as having latent TB infection (LTBI). LTBI diagnosis was more frequent in the children who had close kindergarten contact with the index case (17.1% vs. 4.4%, P=0.007). None of the cases had active TB. Conclusion: This is the first reported case of TB transmission among young children from a pediatric patient with disseminated TB in Korea. TB should be emphasized as a possible cause of chronic diarrhea and failure to thrive in children. A national TB control policy has been actively applied to identify Korean children with LTBI.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.718-723
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• 2008

Background: The advances in surgical techniques, anesthesia management, perfusion methodology and postoperative intensive care have markedly decreased the mortality and cardiac morbidity of patients who undergo heart surgery over the past 2 decades. Nevertheless, it is well recognized that cardiac surgery carries a substantial risk for central nervous system complications. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of subclinical cerebrovascular lesions in the head and neck by performing magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and we investigated the clinical course of patients who had abnormal lesion seen on head and neck MRA. Material and Method: The subjects were 107 patients (71 men and 36 women ranging in age from 21 to 83 years) who were scheduled for cardiac surgery under nonemergency conditions between October 2005 and June 2008. Informed consent was obtained before the MRA. The carotid arteries, intracranial arteries and brain parenchyme were examined for subclinical cerebrovascular lesions by performing MRA. We reviewed the patients' medical records and MR findings to evaluate the prevalence of neurologically high risk patients and their clinical course. Result: The overall prevalence of neurologically high risk patients was 15.7% (17 patients). Among these patients, 11 patients had ischemic heart disease and 6 patients had valvular heart disease. Only 2 patients had a history of cerebrovascular disease. The clinical courses of 14 patients (13.1%) were changed according to their MRI findings. Conclusion: The prevalence of subclinical cerebrovascular disease in patients who were scheduled for cardiac surgery was higher than was expected. MR angiography was of value to identify these patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2000

Background: Reconstruction surgery of mitral valve regurgitation is now considered as an effective operative technique and has shown good long-term results. Although reconstructive surgery of mitral valve has been performed since 1970s, we have started only in early 1990s in full scale because of small number of the mitral regurgitation compared to mitral stenosis and lack of knowledge from the viewpoint of patients and physicians. Material and Method: From January 1992 to December 1996, 100 patients underwent repair of the mitral valve for mitral regurgitation with or without mitral stenosis in Seoul National University Hospital. 45(45%) of the patients were men and 55(55%) were women. The mean age was 39.9$\pm$14.4 years. The causes of the mitral regurgitation were rheumatic in 61, degenerative in 28 and others in 11. According to the Carpentier's pathological classification of mitral regurgitation 5 patients were type I. 55 patients were type II and 40 patients were type III. 7 patients underwent concomitant aortic valvuloplasty and 8 patients underwent aortic valve replacement. 7 patients underwent Maze operation or pulmonary vein isolation. Result: There were no operative death but 3 major operative complications: 2patients were postoperative low cardiac output syndrome(needed intra-aortic ballon pump support) and 1 patient was postoperative bleeding. There was one late death(1.0%) The cause of death was sepsis secondary to acute bacterial endocarditis. 3 patients required reoperation for recurred mitral regurgitation. There were no statistically significant risk factors for reoperation. The other 96 patients showed no or mild degree of mitral regurgitation 99 survivors were in NYHA functional class I or II. There were two throumboembolisms but no anticoagulation-related complications. Conclusion: We concluded that mitral valve repair could be performed successfully in most cases of mitral regurgitation even in the rheumatic and combined lesions with very low operative mortality and morbidity. The early results are very promising.