• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.156-165
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• 2019

Purpose: Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is a standard treatment for limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) showing a response to initial treatment, but many patients do not receive PCI due to comorbidities or refusal. This study aims to define the patient group for whom PCI can be omitted with minimal risk. Materials and Methods: Patients with LS-SCLC who underwent radiotherapy with curative aim at our institution between January 2004 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who did not receive PCI were evaluated for brain metastasis-free survival (BMFS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and prognostic factors for survival, and treatment outcomes were compared with a patient cohort who received PCI. Results: A total of 350 patients achieved a response following thoracic radiotherapy, and 190 of these patients did not receive PCI. Stage I-II and a complete response (CR) to initial therapy were good prognostic factors for BMFS and OS on univariate analysis. Patients with both stage I-II and a CR who declined PCI showed comparable 2-year BMFS to those who received PCI (92% vs. 89%). In patients who achieved CR, PCI did not significantly improve OS or PFS. Conclusion: There should be less concern about omitting PCI in patients with comorbidities if they have stage I-II or a CR, with brain metastasis control being comparable to those patients who receive PCI.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.232-243
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• 1999

In the Oriental Medicine, the breathing problem is defined as one of the symptoms such as Cheon-Jeung, Hyo-Jeung and chronic respiratory organs disease. Its source is heard to be the functional reduction of descending of Lung and Kidney. The organs for breathing are known as Lung, Spleen and Kidney. In this research, some remarkable results are referred which were detected by measuring the variations of the breathing volume of 20 patients after taking Keumsuyukunjeon. Picrometer is used for the measurement of the volume. The investigation had been performed since from January 1 st to August 31th of 1998. The patients for the experiment were mainly composed of patients who had trouble in breathing due to the pneumonectasis, sthmas, pneumonias. The percent of men is 67% in sex distribution and the ratio of persons over 50's was 85%. After Keumsuyukunjeon was taken to the patients, the enhancement ratio of breathing volume was appeared as 7.7%. The analysis based on an age was that the patients of 40's show the highest volumetric advancement. The ratio of breathing volume was the aged patients whose lung or kidney is weak and it can be used as the prescription for supplement of body and lung. From the relations between the breathing volume before treatment and the enhancement ratio, the increase of the enhancement ratio and the better response to the medicine were shown to the more serious patients. The period of treatment was 27.5 days average. The enhancement ratio of smoker was 23. and that of non-smoker was 50. At the test of relation between the trouble rate in breathing and the enhancement ratio. Grade Ⅲ shows the highest enhancement value 50%. From the experimental results, It is found that Keumsuyukunjeon gives a noticeable benefit for the patients whose main symptom was breathing problem. Long-term treatments for the serious and aged patients will make much more efficient to the reduction of the symptoms.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.266-272
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• 2013

Purpose: Although the duodenum and the pancreas are protected by surrounding organs and have a low probability of injury during trauma, the mortality and the morbidity due to complications is high. This report includes the pancreaticoduodenal injuries we observed that were treated at a single institute. Methods: The medical records of patients admitted to our institute between 2001 and 2012 for pancreaticoduodenal injury were retrospectively reviewed. Results: In our hospital, between 2001 and 2012, 15 patients were admitted for a pancreaticoduodenal injury. All patients experienced blunt trauma, 6 of whom were involved in traffic accidents and 9 of whom received injuries from physical assault. Most of the patients were men(13 of 15 patients, 86%) with a mean age of 23 years (range, 5?39 years). All patients were admitted to the emergency center and managed by the surgeons on duty. The mean value of the injury severity score was 22. The mortality rate was 6%(1 of 15 patients). Seven of the fourteen surviving patients(50%) had duodenal injury, 6 patients(42%) had a pancreatic injury, and 1 patient(7%) had a combined pancreaticoduodenal injury. The surgical procedures were targeted at damage control. Conclusion: In conclusion, we believe that damage control surgery is the optimal management for a pancreaticoduodenal injury.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.321-328
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• 2016

PURPOSE. This study was designed to investigate the maintenance of teeth and implants in patients with viral liver disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 316 patients without any significant systemic disease were selected as a control group. Liver disease group was consisted of 230 patients. Necessary data were collected using clinical records and panoramic radiographs. Then, the patients were subdivided into 2 groups based on the type of active dental therapy received before maintenance period (Pre-Tx). Analysis for finding statistically significant difference was performed based on the need for re-treatment of active dental therapy (Re-Tx) and change in the number of teeth (N-teeth) and implants (N-implants). RESULTS. Comparing to control group, the patients with liver disease showed higher value on N-teeth, N-implants, and Re-Tx. Statistically significant differences were found on N-teeth (P=.000) and Re-Tx (P=.000) in patients with non-surgical Pre-Tx. Analysis based on severity of liver disease showed that N-teeth and Re-Tx were directly related to severity of liver disease regardless of received type of Pre-Tx. Significant differences were found on N-teeth (P=.003) and Re-Tx (P=.044) in patients with non-surgical Pre-Tx. CONCLUSION. In this study, it was concluded that liver disease might influence the loss of teeth and cause the relapse of dental disease during maintenance period in patients. A significant positive relationship between tooth and implant loss and severity of liver disease seems to exist.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2010

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of safety on liver functions when Korean herbal medicine was taken internally. Method: 101 inpatients who took Korean herbal medicine were enrolled and liver function test (aspartic aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, gamma glutamyltranspeptidase, albumin, lactate dehydrogenase) was performed on admission and 1 month later. Results: In 101 patients, alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltranspeptidase decreased significantly compared with the value taken on admission (p<0.05) but aspartic aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, albumin, and lactate dehydrogenase were not significantly changed (p>0.05). In the patients who took Scutellaria baicalensis (n=34), alkaline phosphatase decreased and albumin increased significantly (p<0.05). Among the patients who took Atractylodes macrocephala (n=29), alkaline phosphatase decreased significantly (p<0.05). In the patients who took Glycyrrhiza uralensis or Paeonia lactiflora, liver function parameters were not significantly changed (p>0.05). On admission 11 patients had abnormal liver function and 2 patients had liver injury while 7 patients had abnormal liver function and 2 patients showed liver injury 1 month later. Conclusions: This study suggests that prescribed Korean herbal medicine does not injure liver function.

• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.538-544
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• 2018

Background: Serum copeptin has been demonstrated to be useful in early risk stratification and prognostication of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the prognostic value of copeptin after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for clinical outcomes remains uncertain. We investigated the prognostic role of serum copeptin levels immediately after successful PCI as a prognostic marker for major adverse cardiac events (MACE; comprising death, repeat PCI, recurrent MI, or coronary artery bypass grafting) in patients with AMI. Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 149 patients with AMI who successfully received PCI. Serum copeptin levels were analyzed in blood samples collected immediately after PCI. The association between copeptin levels and MACE during the follow-up period was evaluated. Results: MACE occurred in 34 (22.8%) patients during a median follow-up of 30.1 months. MACE patients had higher copeptin levels than non-MACE patients did. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the increase in serum copeptin levels was associated with increased MACE incidence (odds ratio=1.6, P =0.005). Conclusions: A high level of serum copeptin measured immediately after PCI was associated with MACE in patients with AMI during long-term follow-up. Serum copeptin levels can serve as a prognostic marker in patients with AMI after successful PCI.

• BLOOD RESEARCH
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.314-319
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• 2018

Background Iron overload is a risk factor affecting all patients with thalassemia intermedia (TI). We aimed to determine whether there is a relationship of serum ferritin (SF) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with liver iron concentration (LIC) determined by R2 magnetic resonance imaging (R2-MRI), to estimate the most relevant degree of iron overload and best time to chelate in patients with TI. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 119 patients with TI (mean age years) were randomly selected and compared with 120 patients who had a diagnosis of thalassemia major (TM). Correlations of LIC, as determined by R2-MRI, with SF and ALT levels, were assessed in all participants. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results SF and LIC levels were lower in patients with TI than in those with TM; only ferritin values were significant. We found a statistically significant relationship between SF and LIC, with cut-off estimates of SF in patients with TI who had splenectomy and those who entered puberty spontaneously (916 and 940 ng/mL, respectively) with LIC >5 mg Fe/g dry weight (P<0.0001). A significant relationship was also found for patients with TI who had elevated ALT level (63.5 U/L), of 3.15 times the upper normal laboratory limit, using a cut-off for LIC ${\geq}5mg\;Fe/g\;dry\;weight$. Conclusion We determined the cut-off values for ALT and SF indicating the best time to start iron chelation therapy in patients with TI, and found significant correlations among iron overload, SF, and ALT.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2022

Objectives This study was conducted to characterize scoliosis patients visiting Korean medicine hospital and to analyze the demands and factors affecting discomfort. Methods This retrospective study analyzed 33 scoliosis patients who visited Korean medicine hospital from March, 2021 to October, 2021. The data analysis consisted of three factors: (1) demographic characteristics, (2) characteristics of demands on Korean medicine (reasons for choosing Korean medical treatment, preferred treatment methods, most uncomfortable part, treatment priorities) and (3) discomfort factors (treatment experiences, diagnosed age and Cobb's angle). Statistical analyses were performed and a p-value≤0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results 43.75% of the patients chose 'effectiveness' for the reason why they preferred Korean medicine treatment. 'Chuna treatment' was the most preferred treatment method. The patients chose 'lower back' for the most uncomfortable part and 'pain' for the highest priority of improvement. The Cobb's angle of included patients was 16.02±7.65° and it is not much differ to average of Cobb's angle in Korean. Discomfort was more severe in the patients with treatment-experienced than treatment-naive. The score of discomfort in appearance and psychological were higher in the patients diagnosed in childhood or adolescent period than who were diagnosed after adult. Classification based on Cobb's angle showed no statistical difference. Conclusions Not only Cobb's angle but also other clinical factors should be considered for effective treatment in scoliosis. Also, It is necessary to pay attention to adult scoliosis patients.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2023

Background: This study evaluated the clinical and radiologic outcomes of onlay patch augmentation in rotator cuff repair for moderate-to-large tears in elderly patients. Methods: We reviewed 24 patients who underwent onlay augmentation with dermal allograft after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair from January 2017 to March 2020. Inclusion criteria were patients aged >65 years with tears >2.5 cm, who were followed for >12 months after surgery, and patients who could raise their arms above 90° preoperatively. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Constant-Murley score, pain visual analog scale (VAS), and VAS for satisfaction were used as clinical outcomes. For the evaluation of cuff integrity, magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed every 3 months after surgery. The results were compared before and after surgery in all patients and between the retear and intact groups. Results: The average follow-up period was 16.38 months, and the mean age of patients was 71.05 years. All patients showed significant improvement in ASES score, Constant-Murley score, and pain VAS at the last evaluation. The average value of satisfaction VAS was 7.27/10. The retear rate was 25% (6/24) if Sugaya type 3 was categorized in the retear group, otherwise 16.7% (4/24), if Sugaya type 3 was categorized into the intact group. Irrespective of Sugaya type 3 being included in the retear group, there was no significant difference in outcome variables between the intact and retear groups during follow-up. Conclusions: In moderate-to-large rotator cuff tear in elderly patients, onlay patch augmentation improved clinical outcomes. Retear did not adversely affect clinical outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.6
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• pp.664-671
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• 2023

Objective : The optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD)/eyeball transverse diameter (ETD) ratio is a more reliable marker of intracranial pressure than the ONSD alone. We aimed to investigate the predictive value of the ONSD/ETD ratio (OER) for neurological outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Methods : Adult patients with aSAH who visited the emergency department of a tertiary hospital connected to a South Korean university between January 2015 and December 2021 were included. Data on patient characteristics and brain computed tomography scan findings, including the ONSD and ETD, were collected using a predefined protocol. According to the neurological outcome at hospital discharge, the patients were divided into the unfavorable neurological outcome (UNO; cerebral performance category [CPC] score 3-5) and the favorable neurological outcome (FNO; CPC score 1-2) groups. The primary outcome was the association between the OER and neurological outcomes in patients with aSAH. Results : A total of 171 patients were included in the study, of whom 118 patients (69%) had UNO. Neither the ONSD (p=0.075) nor ETD (p=0.403) showed significant differences between the two groups. However, the OER was significantly higher in the UNO group in the univariate analysis (p=0.045). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the OER for predicting UNO was 0.603 (p=0.031). There was no independent relationship between the OER and UNO in the multivariate logistic regression analysis (adjusted odds ratio, 0.010; p=0.576). Conclusion : The OER was significantly higher in patients with UNO than in those with FNO, and the OER was more reliable than the ONSD alone. However, the OER had limited utility in predicting UNO in patients with aSAH.