• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1841-1849
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• 2021

Objective: To prospectively investigate the feasibility of shear wave elastography (SWE) as a new quantitative and objective method for evaluating the stiffness of the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscle during passive stretching in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Materials and Methods: SWE of the GM muscle was performed in 28 patients with PD [13 female and 15 male; mean age ± standard deviation (SD): 63.0 ± 8.5 years] and 12 healthy controls (5 female and 7 male; mean age ± SD: 59.3 ± 6.4 years) during passive ankle rotation. A Young's modulus-ankle angle curve was constructed. The GM slack angle and baseline Young's modulus (E₀) were compared between the markedly symptomatic and mildly symptomatic sides of patients with PD, and healthy controls. Additionally, the correlation between the GM slack angle and the severity of rigidity, and the observer reproducibility of SWE in determining the GM slack angle were evaluated. Results: The GM slack angle was smaller on both the markedly and mildly symptomatic sides in patients with PD than in healthy controls (mean ± SD of -29.13° ± 3.79° and -25.65° ± 3.39°, respectively, vs. -21.22° ± 3.52°; p < 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively). Additionally, in patients with PD, the GM slack angle on the markedly symptomatic side was smaller than that on the mildly symptomatic side (p = 0.003). The E0 value was lower on both the markedly and mildly symptomatic sides in patients with PD than in healthy controls (mean ± SD of 10.11 ± 2.85 kPa and 10.08 ± 1.88 kPa, respectively, vs. 12.23 ± 1.02 kPa; p = 0.012 and p < 0.001, respectively). However, no significant difference was found between the markedly and mildly symptomatic sides in patients with PD (p = 0.634). A negative linear relationship was observed between the GM slack angle and lower limb rigidity score on the markedly symptomatic side in patients with PD (r = -0.719; p < 0.001). The intraclass correlation coefficients for observer reproducibility of SWE ranged from 0.880 to 0.951. Conclusion: The slack angle determined by SWE may be a useful quantitative and reproducible method for evaluating muscle stiffness in patients with PD.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.106-108
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• 2017

The perfusion change in acute symptomatic hypoglycemic encephalopathy (ASHE) is not well known. We present the perfusion-weighted imaging of a patient with ASHE. The area of diffusion-weighted imaging abnormalities and adjacent normal-appearing white matter showed increased cerebral blood volume and flow, and shortening of time-to-peak.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.598-606
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• 2020

Objective : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of time interval between index event and stenting on the periprocedural risk of stenting for symptomatic carotid stenosis and to determine the optimal timing of stenting. Methods : This retrospective study included 491 (322 symptomatic [65.6%] and 169 asymptomatic [34.4%]) patients undergoing carotid stenting. The symptomatic patients were categorized into Day 0-3, 4-7, 8-10, 11-14, 15-21, and >21 groups according to the time interval between index event and stenting. Periprocedural (≤30 days) risk for clinical (any neurological deterioration) and radiological (new infarction on postprocedural diffusion-weighted imaging) events of stenting in each time interval versus asymptomatic stenosis was calculated with logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounders, and provided as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results : Overall clinical event rate (4.3%) of stenting for symptomatic carotid stenosis was higher than that for asymptomatic stenosis (1.2%; OR, 3.979 [95% CI, 1.093-14.489]; p=0.036). Stenting in Day 0-3 (13.2%; OR, 10.997 [95% CI, 2.333-51.826]; p=0.002) and Day 4-7 (8.3%; OR, 6.775 [95% CI, 1.382-33.227]; p=0.018) was associated with high risk for clinical events. However, the clinical event rates in stenting after 7 days from index event (Day 8-10, 1.8%; Day 11-14, 2.5%; Day 15-21, 0%; Day >21, 2.9%) were not different from that in stenting for asymptomatic stenosis. Overall radiological event rate (55.6%) in symptomatic stenosis was also higher than that in asymptomatic stenosis (35.5%; OR, 2.274 [95% CI, 1.553-3.352]; p<0.001). The high risk for radiological events was maintained in all time intervals (Day 0-3 : 55.3%; OR, 2.224 [95% CI, 1.103-4.627]; p=0.026; Day 4-7 : 58.3%; OR, 2.543 [95% CI, 1.329-4.949]; p=0.005; Day 8-10 : 53.6%; OR, 2.096 [95% CI, 1.138-3.889]; p=0.018; Day 11-14 : 57.5%; OR, 2.458 [95% CI, 1.225-5.021]; p=0.012; Day 15-21 : 55.6%; OR, 2.271 [95% CI, 1.099-4.764]; p=0.028; Day >21 : 54.8%; OR, 2.203 [95% CI, 1.342-3.641]; p=0.002). Conclusion : This study showed that as stenting was delayed, the periprocedural risk for clinical events decreased. The clinical event risk was high only in stenting within 7 days and comparable with that for asymptomatic stenosis in stenting after 7 days from index event, although the radiological event risk was not affected by stenting timing. Therefore, our results suggest that delayed stenting after 7 days from symptom onset is a safe strategy for symptomatic stenosis.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.353-359
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentrations of Leukotriene B4 in relation to the clinical symptom of pulpitis in human dental pulp. Pulps obtained from 3 groups of teeth: normal uniflamed teeth(N=22), asymptomatic teeth with deep caries or large restorations(N = 21) and symptomatic teeth with the clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis(N = 15). Pulps were dissected from normal un inflamed teeth and extirpated from asymptomatic and symptomatic teeth during routine endodontic treatment and stored in liquid nitrogen ($-70^{\circ}C$). The levels of Leukotriene B4 in individual or pooled pulps were measured by radioimmunoassay and the mean levels of each group were compared statistically(Kruskall-Wallis oneway ANOVA test). The results were as followings : 1. In normal pulp, low levels of Leukotriene B4 were measured. 2. In pulps from asymptomatic and symptomatic teeth had significantly higher levels of Leukotriene B4 than normal pulps(p<0.01). 3. The levels of Leukotriene B4 in pulps from symptomatic teeth were significantly higher than those of pulps from asymptomatic teeth(p<0.01). These results suggest that Leukotriene B4 play a cretain role in inflammatory process of dental pulp and have a relationship with clinical symptoms of pulpitis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.511-514
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• 2013

Isolated symptomatic occlusion of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) is a rare condition and until date, only few cases regarding the revascularization of the ACA have been reported. This paper reports on successful attempt to revascularize the ACA using superficial temporal artery (STA) in patient with isolated symptomatic occlusion of the ACA. A 69-year-old man presented with several episodes of transient weakness involving left lower extremity. Cerebral angiography showed occlusion of the right ACA at the A2 segment. After medical treatment failure, the patient underwent STA-ACA bypass surgery. Subsequent to surgery, there was immediate disappearance of transient ischemic attack and follow-up angiography showed favorable revascularization of the ACA territory. Bypass surgery can be considered in the patients with symptomatic occlusion of the ACA, who have experienced failure in medical treatment.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.35-38
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• 2018

Recently assessment of suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) level has become a useful cardiac biomarker in human medicine. This study compared serum ST2 levels and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels between healthy dogs and dogs with chronic mitral valve disease. Twenty client-owned dogs were investigated. Dogs were divided into normal, asymptomatic, and symptomatic groups. Serum samples were used to measure levels of NT-proBNP and ST2. Samples for NT-proBNP were sent to IDEXX laboratory for analysis while ST2 levels were measured by using a canine interleukin 33 receptor ELISA kit. There was a significant difference in NT-proBNP levels between asymptomatic and symptomatic groups (P < 0.01), and between normal and symptomatic groups (P < 0.01). In contrast, ST2 levels were not relatively different between asymptomatic and symptomatic groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference was observed among all groups in ST2 study. The usefulness of measuring NT-proBNP level as a cardiac biomarker in dogs with chronic mitral valve disease was confirmed, but usefulness of the ST2 level was not observed. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the potential usefulness of ST2 level as a cardiac biomarker in canines.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2014

Recently, surgical outcomes of repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) have improved. For patients with TOF older than 3 months, primary repair has been advocated regardless of symptoms. However, a surgical approach to symptomatic TOF in neonates or very young infants remains elusive. Traditionally, there have been two surgical options for these patients: primary repair versus an initial aortopulmonary shunt followed by repair. Early primary repair provides several advantages, including avoidance of shunt-related complications, early relief of hypoxia, promotion of normal lung development, avoidance of ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis, and psychological comfort to the family. Because of advances in cardiopulmonary bypass techniques and accumulated experience in neonatal cardiac surgery, primary repair in neonates with TOF has been performed with excellent early outcomes (early mortality<5%), which may be superior to the outcomes of aortopulmonary shunting. A remaining question regarding surgical options is whether shunts can preserve the pulmonary valve annulus for TOF neonates with pulmonary stenosis. Symptomatic neonates and older infants have different anatomies of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstructions, which in neonates are nearly always caused by a hypoplastic pulmonary valve annulus instead of infundibular obstruction. Therefore, a shunt is less likely to preserve the pulmonary valve annulus than is primary repair. Primary repair of TOF can be performed safely in most symptomatic neonates. Patients who have had primary repair should be closely followed up to evaluate the RVOT pathology and right ventricular function.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1563-1569
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• 1992

From Jan. 1981 to Dec. 1991, we had treated 25 patients with congenital coronary art-eriovenous fistulas [CAVF] in Seoul National University Hospital. A retrospective review was made to delineate the course and the management of CAVF and to clarify the role of surgical treatment. Fifteen patients were male and 10 were female with The mean age of 17.4 years[from 3 months to 58 years]. The most frequent symptom was dyspnea on exertion[56%]. Other symptoms were angina and palpitation. Sixty-eight percent of the patients were symptomatic. Fifty-three percent of patients less than 20 years old were symptomatic and 100% of patients over 20 years old were symptomatic. Three patients had multiple CAVFs. The fistula drained into the right ventricle in 13, pulmonary artery in 9, left ventricle in 4, right atrium in 2, and left atrium in 1. Thirteen patients had other associated cardiac lesions. The mean pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow[Qp /Qs] in the isolate CAVF group was 2.19. All patients were operated on to correct the fistulas and other associated cardiac lesions. All patients were followed from 1 month to 11 years without late death. Postoperative complication rate was 24% -significant arrhythmia [3], recurred CAVF[1], psychosis[1], pneumonia [1]. Symptomatic improvement was evident postoperatively. Below 20 years old, 94% of patients were asymptomatic, but above 20 years old, symptoms persisted in 25%. In summary, early elective repair of CAVF is indicated in all patients because of higher complication rate and frequent persistent symptoms in older patients.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2006

Background: central core disease is one of the non-progressive benign congenital myopathies characterized by the presence of cores in muscle fibers, which was originally described by Shy and Magee (1956). We describe clinical charcteristics of central core disease in a Korean family manifested by autosomal dominant pattern through three generations. Methods: Clinical, serologic, and electrophysiologic profiles were evaluated in eleven members among 22 family members through three generations. Results: Six family members were symptomatic and five were non-symptomatic. Instead of proximal muscle weakness, musculoskeletal manifestations including non-specific joint pain and stiff sense were the most frequent symptoms. Muscle biopsy performed in two symptomatic patients revealed that type I fiber showed central halo, which is charactreristics of central core disease. No remarkable findings were present in serologic study including CPK level and electromyographic findings suggesting myopathic pattern were only present in two patients among 11 symptomatic group. Conclusions: In evaluating non-specific musculoskeletal complaints from the familial members showing genetic trait, central core disease should be considered to one of the possible diagnosis.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2016

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of symptomatic bone lesions in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who received local radiotherapy (LRT). Materials and Methods: Fifty-one patients with 87 symptomatic bone lesions treated via LRT were analyzed. LRT was delivered at a median total dose of 21 Gy (range, 12 to 40 Gy) in a median of 7 fractions (range, 4 to 20 fractions). The clinical outcomes of LRT and the factors affecting treatment response were assessed. Results: After a median follow-up time of 66.7 weeks, symptom relief was achieved for 85 of 87 lesions (97.7%). The median time to symptom relief was 7 days from the start of LRT (range, 1 to 67 days). The duration of in-field failure-free survival ranged from 1.1 to 450.9 weeks (median, 66.7 weeks). The radiation dose or use of previous and concurrent chemotherapy was not significantly associated with in-field failure for LRT (p = 0.354, 0.758, and 0.758, respectively). Conclusion: Symptomatic bone lesions in patients with MM can be successfully treated with LRT. A higher radiation dose or the use of concurrent chemotherapy may not influence the in-field disease control. A relatively low radiation dose could achieve remission of symptoms in patients with MM.