• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.117-123
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• 2005

The reconstructive modalities for vaginal reconstruction include simple dilatation, skin graft, use of intestinal segments and various methods using flaps. However, skin grafting procedure is the most commonly used technique and the McIndoe procedure is a representative technique among skin grafting procedures. McIndoe procedure is easier, faster and has a lower morbidity compared to other techniques. However the conventional McIndoe procedure has several problems such as incomplete vestibule formation, excessive bleeding during dissection, possibility of recto-vaginal or urethro-vaginal fistula formation, late vaginal contracture and discomfort in wearing hard plastic mold for a long time after operation. To solve these problems, the authors modified the conventional McIndoe procedure in several perspectives. The undeveloped vestibule was incised with X-shaped mucosal incision between the urethral opening and posterior margin of the vestibule and deepened by blunt finger dissection to provide a sufficient diameter & length of the neovagina and to minimize bleeding. A sizable medium thickness split skin graft was harvested and wrapped over a roll gauze-filled condom mold. Applying multiple stab incision on the skin grafted condom mold, it was inserted into the prepared neovaginal canal. Distal margin of the skin graft was secured with tips of the mucosal flaps created by X-shaped vestibular incision to prevent accidental extrusion of the skin grafted mold. During last 15 years, we applied this modification to 20 vaginal agenesis patients and investigated results of the 12 patients who could be followed up serially including hematoma formation and skin graft survival rate, size, depth, presence of late contracture, appearance, comfortness, and hygiene of the neovagina. And they were compared with 8 patients of 20 patients who underwent conventional McIndoe procedures. The modified McIndoe procedure revealed lower complication rate, higher patient satisfaction and better functional results.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.376-383
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• 2012

Background No consensus has been reached regarding the outcome of management of local recurrence after transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction. This study demonstrated the presentation, management, and outcomes of local recurrence after immediate TRAM breast reconstruction. Methods A comparison was conducted among 1,000 consecutive patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with a pedicled TRAM flap (TRAM group) and 3,183 consecutive patients who underwent only modified radical mastectomy without reconstruction (MRM group) from January 2001 to December 2009. The presentation, treatment, and outcome including aesthetics and overall survival rate were analyzed. Results Local recurrences occurred in 18 (1.8%) patients (TRAM-LR group) who underwent TRAM breast reconstruction and 38 (1.2%) patients (MRM-LR group) who underwent MRM only (P=0.1712). Wide excision was indicated in almost all the local recurrence cases. Skin graft was required in 4 patients in the MRM-LR group, whereas only one patient required a skin graft to preserve the mound shape in the TRAM-LR group. The breast mound was maintained in all 17 patients that survived in the TRAM-LR group even after wide excision. The overall survival rate was 94.4% in the TRAM-LR group and 65.8% in the MRM-LR group (P=0.276). Conclusions Local recurrence after immediate TRAM flap breast reconstruction could be detected without delay and managed effectively by multiple modalities without reducing overall survival rates. Breast mound reconstruction with soft autologous tissue allowed for primary closure in most of the cases. In all of the patients who survived, the contour of their reconstructed breast remained.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.23-37
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• 2004

Fibromyalgia syndrome(FMS) is a chronic pain disorder of unknown etiology characterized by widespread musculoskeletal aches and pains, stiffness, and general fatigue, disturbed sleep and sleepiness. Frequently misdiagnosed, FMS is often confused with myofascial pain syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, polymyositis, hypothyroidism, metastatic carcinoma, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, or systemic lupus erythematosus, any of which may occur concomitantly with FMS. The management of FMS often begins with a thorough examination and a diagnosis from a physician who is formally trained in tender-point/trigger-point recognition. An initial diagnosis provides reassurance to the patient and often reduces the anxiety and depression patterns associated with FMS. The most common goals in the management of FMS are (1) to break the pain cycle, (2) to restore sleep patterns, and (3) to increase functional activity levels. Because FMS is a multifactorial syndrome, it is likely that the best treatment will encompass multiple strategies. Medication with analgesics and antidepressants and also physiotherapy, are often prescribed and give some relief. The other most effective intervention for long-term management of FS to date is physical exercise. Physical therapists can instruct patients in the use of heat at home (moist hot packs, heating pads, whirlpools, warm showers or baths, and hot pads) to increase local blood flow and to decrease muscle spasm and tension. Also instruct patients in the proper use of cold modalities (ice packs, ice massage, and cool baths) to anesthetize localized areas of pain (tender points) and break the pain cycle. Massage and tender-point massage also may promote muscle relaxation. To date, the two most important interventions for the long-term management of FS are patient education and physical exercise. Lately, is handling FMS and Chronic Fatigue syndrome(CFS) together, becuase FMS and CFS are poorly understood disorders that share similar demographic and clinical characteristics. Because of the clinical similarities between both disorders it was suggested that they share a common pathophysiological mechanism, namely, central nervous system dysfunction.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.153-158
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and digital intraoral radiography in diagnosing simulated small external root resorption cavities. Materials and Methods: Cavities were drilled in 159 roots using a small spherical bur at different root levels and on all surfaces. The teeth were imaged both with intraoral digital radiography using image plates and with CBCT. Two sets of intraoral images were acquired per tooth: orthogonal (PA) which was the conventional periapical radiograph and mesioangulated (SET). Four readers were asked to rate their confidence level in detecting and locating the lesions. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the accuracy of each modality in detecting the presence of lesions, the affected surface, and the affected level. Analysis of variation was used to compare the results and kappa analysis was used to evaluate interobserver agreement. Results: A significant difference in the area under the ROC curves was found among the three modalities (P=0.0002), with CBCT (0.81) having a significantly higher value than PA (0.71) or SET (0.71). PA was slightly more accurate than SET, but the difference was not statistically significant. CBCT was also superior in locating the affected surface and level. Conclusion: CBCT has already proven its superiority in detecting multiple dental conditions, and this study shows it to likewise be superior in detecting and locating incipient external root resorption.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.66-72
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• 2020

Background: Low back pain secondary to discopathy is a common pain disorder. Multiple minimally invasive therapeutic modalities have been proposed; however, to date no study has compared percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) with intradiscal injection of radiopaque gelified ethanol (DiscoGel^®). We are introducing the first study on patient-reported outcomes of DiscoGel^® vs. PLDD for radiculopathy. Methods: Seventy-two patients were randomly selected from either a previous strategy of PLDD or DiscoGel^®, which had been performed in our center during 2016-2017. Participants were asked about their numeric rating scale (NRS) scores, Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, and progression to secondary treatment. Results: The mean NRS scores in the total cohort before intervention was 8.0, and was reduced to 4.3 in the DiscoGel^® group and 4.2 in the PLDD group after 12 months, which was statistically significant. The mean ODI score before intervention was 81.25% which was reduced to 41.14% in the DiscoGel^® group and 52.86% in the PLDD group after 12 months, which was statistically significant. Between-group comparison of NRS scores after two follow-ups were not statistically different (P = 0.62) but the ODI score in DiscoGel^® was statistically lower (P = 0.001). Six cases (16.67%) from each group reported undergoing surgery after the follow-up period which was not statistically different. Conclusions: Both techniques were equivalent in pain reduction but DiscoGel^® had a greater effect on decreasing disability after 12 months, although the rate of progression to secondary treatments and/or surgery was almost equal in the two groups.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제62권2호
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• pp.209-216
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• 2019

Objective : Hydatid cyst disease is caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus. It is rarely seen in the vertebral system, occurring at a rate of 0.2-1%. The aim of this study is to present 12 spinal hydatid cyst cases, and propose a new type of drainage of the cyst. Methods : Twelve cases of spinal hydatid cysts, surgical operations, multiple operations, chronic recurrences, and spinal hydatic cyst excision methods are discussed in the context of the literature. Patients are operated between 2005 and 2016. All the patients are kept under routine follow up. Patient demographic data and clinicopathologic characteristics are examined. Results : Six male and six female patients with a median age of 38.6 at the time of surgery were included in the study. Spinal cyst hydatid infection sites were one odontoid, one cervical, five thoracic, two lumbar, and three sacral. In all cases, surgery was performed, with the aim of total excision of the cyst, decompression of the spinal cord, and if necessary, stabilization of the spinal column. Mean follow up was 61.3 months (10-156). All the patients were prescribed Albendazole. Three patients had secondary hydatid cyst infection (one lung and two hepatic). Conclusion : The two-way drainage catheter placed inside a cyst provides post-operative chlorhexidine washing inside the cavity. Although a spinal hydatid cyst is a benign pathology and seen rarely, it is extremely difficult to achieve a real cure for patients with this disease. Treatment modalities should be aggressive and include total excision of cyst without rupture, decompression of spinal cord, flushing of the area with scolicidal drugs, and ensuring spinal stabilization. After the operation the patients should be kept under routine follow up. Radiological and clinical examinations are useful in spotting a recurrence.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• 제6권6호
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• pp.550-564
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• 2022

Optical microscopy is a useful tool for study in the biological sciences. With an optical microscope, we can observe the micro world of life such as tissues, cells, and proteins. A fluorescent dye or a fluorescent protein provides an opportunity to mark a specific target in the crowd of biological samples, so that an image of a specific target can be observed by an optical microscope. The optical microscope, however, is constrained in resolution due to diffraction limit. Super-resolution microscopy made a breakthrough with this diffraction limit. Using a super-resolution microscope, many biomolecules are observed beyond the diffraction limit in cells. In the case of volumetric imaging, the super-resolution techniques are only applied to a limited area due to long imaging time, multiple scattering of photons, and sample-induced aberration in deep tissue. In this article, we review recent advances in super-resolution microscopy for volumetric imaging. The super-resolution techniques have been integrated with various modalities, such as a line-scan confocal microscope, a spinning disk confocal microscope, a light sheet microscope, and point spread function engineering. Super-resolution microscopy combined with adaptive optics by compensating for wave distortions is a promising method for deep tissue imaging and biomedical applications.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.291-298
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• 2020

Purpose: The detection and exact localization of penetrating foreign bodies are crucial for the appropriate management of patients with dentoalveolar trauma. This study compared the efficacy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and spiral computed tomography (CT) scans for the detection of different foreign bodies composed of 5 frequently encountered materials in 2 sizes. The effect of the location of the foreign bodies on their visibility was also analyzed. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, metal, tooth, stone, glass, and plastic particles measuring 1×1×1 mm and 2×2×2 mm were prepared. They were implanted in a sheep's head in the tongue muscle, nasal cavity, and at the interface of the mandibular cortex and soft tissue. CBCT and spiral CT scans were taken and the visibility of foreign bodies was scored by 4 skilled maxillofacial radiologists who were blinded to the location and number of foreign bodies. Results: CT and CBCT were equally accurate in visualizing metal, stone, and tooth particles of both sizes. However, CBCT was better for detecting glass particles in the periosteum. Although both imaging modalities visualized plastic particles poorly, CT was slightly better for detecting plastic particles, especially the smaller ones. Conclusion: Considering the lower patient radiation dose and cost, CBCT can be used with almost equal accuracy as CT for detecting foreign bodies of different compositions and sizes in multiple maxillofacial regions. However, CT performed better for detecting plastic particles.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• 제14권11호
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• pp.4290-4309
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• 2020

In recent years, advancements in machine learning capabilities have allowed it to see widespread adoption for tasks such as object detection, image classification, and anomaly detection. However, despite their promise, a limitation lies in the fact that a network's performance quality is based on the data which it receives. A well-trained network will still have poor performance if the subsequent data supplied to it contains artifacts, out of focus regions, or other visual distortions. Under normal circumstances, images of the same scene captured from differing points of focus, angles, or modalities must be separately analysed by the network, despite possibly containing overlapping information such as in the case of images of the same scene captured from different angles, or irrelevant information such as images captured from infrared sensors which can capture thermal information well but not topographical details. This factor can potentially add significantly to the computational time and resources required to utilize the network without providing any additional benefit. In this study, we plan to explore using image fusion techniques to assemble multiple images of the same scene into a single image that retains the most salient key features of the individual source images while discarding overlapping or irrelevant data that does not provide any benefit to the network. Utilizing this image fusion step before inputting a dataset into the network, the number of images would be significantly reduced with the potential to improve the classification performance accuracy by enhancing images while discarding irrelevant and overlapping regions.

• 여성건강간호학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.128-140
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a self-transcendence enhancement program and examine its effect on self-transcendence, spiritual well-being, and psychological well-being in elderly women who live alone. Methods: A self-transcendence enhancement program was developed through theory, literature review, and in-depth interviews. The theoretical framework came from the Psychoeducational Approach to Transcendence and Health intervention model based on Reed's middle-range theory of self-transcendence. The program consisted of multiple modalities in a structured, theory-based program lasting for eight weekly sessions. Using a single-group pretest-posttest design, the program was tested on a group of 40 elderly women aged 75 to 84 years living alone in Daejeon, Korea. Participants completed self-reported study questionnaires before and after the program at the elderly welfare center. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24.0, with significance level set at .05. Paired t-test was used to compare mean differences before and after the program. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 79.1 years. After completing the program, the participants showed higher levels of self-transcendence (t=8.78, p<.001), overall spiritual well-being (t=8.30, p=.002), religious spiritual well-being (t=1.79, p=.040), existential spiritual well-being (t=6.75, p=.002), and positive affect (t=3.77, p=.001) than they did before the program. They also reported lower levels of depression (t=-7.59, p<.001) and negative affect (t=-6.15, p<.001). Conclusion: The self-transcendence enhancement program developed in this study may be effective for improving the level of self-transcendence in elderly women living alone and helping them to attain spiritual and psychological well-being.