• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.183-191
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• 2019

Some patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) present with cognitive dysfunctions. The pathophysiology underlying this complication is not well understood. Type 1 DM has been associated with a decrease in the speed of information processing, psychomotor efficiency, attention, mental flexibility, and visual perception. Longitudinal epidemiological studies of type 1 DM have indicated that chronic hyperglycemia and microvascular disease, rather than repeated severe hypoglycemia, are associated with the pathogenesis of DM-related cognitive dysfunction. However, severe hypoglycemic episodes may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in high-risk patients with DM. Type 2 DM has been associated with memory deficits, decreased psychomotor speed, and reduced frontal lobe/executive function. In type 2 DM, chronic hyperglycemia, long duration of DM, presence of vascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension and obesity), and microvascular and macrovascular complications are associated with the increased risk of developing cognitive dysfunction. The pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction in individuals with DM include the following: (1) role of hyperglycemia, (2) role of vascular disease, (3) role of hypoglycemia, and (4) role of insulin resistance and amyloid. Recently, some investigators have proposed that type 3 DM is correlated to sporadic Alzheimer's disease. The molecular and biochemical consequences of insulin and insulin-like growth factor resistance in the brain compromise neuronal survival, energy production, gene expression, plasticity, and white matter integrity. If patients claim that their performance is worsening or if they ask about the effects of DM on functioning, screening and assessment are recommended.

• 대한간학회지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.417-423
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• 2018

Anemia appears frequently in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) but has never been linked to bilateral nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). A 65-year-old woman with a medical history of alcoholic cirrhosis was admitted for bilateral NAION. On admission, she was found to have a low arterial pressure and severe normocytic anemia (48 g/L). The anemia was related to chronic bleeding due to antral gastritis along with other factors associated with ALD. The applied treatment consisted of urgent transfusion followed by high doses of proton-pump inhibitors, iron and vitamin supplementation, and support in lifestyle measures. Her hemoglobin levels remained stable after 2 years but the patient still suffered from visual loss. This case highlights the link between anemia and bilateral NAION in ALD patients. The optic nerve head is prone to infarction in this context due to the vascularization characteristics of ALD. Hemoglobin levels should be monitored in ALD patients to avoid the severe complication of NAION.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제67권2호
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• pp.202-208
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• 2024

Objective : Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a common long-term complication following spine surgeries characterized by chronic persistent pain; different strategies of management were employed to deal with it. This clinical trial aims to compare the efficacy of Pregabalin and Gabapentin in the management of this condition. Methods : A double-blind, randomized, comparative study (clinical trial registry NCT05324761 on 11th April 2022) with two parallel arms with Pregabalin and Gabapentin were used in arms one and two, respectively. Visual analog scale was used for basal and endpoint assessment of pain. T-test and analysis of covariance were used to deal with different variables. A pairwise test was used to compare pairs of means. Results : Of 66 patients referred to the trial, 64 were eligible, with 60 patients completing the 30 days trial. Both pregabalin and gabapentin effectively reduce pain, with significant p-values of 0.001 for each group. However, the pregabalin group was superior to gabapentin in pain reduction (p=0.001). Gender was an insignificant factor (p=0.574 and p=0.445 for the pregabalin and gabapentin groups, respectively, with a non-significant reduction (p=0.393) for both groups in total. Location of stenosis before surgery and type of surgery performed show non-significant effect on pain reduction for both groups. Conclusion : Both pregabalin and gabapentin effectively and safely relieve neuropathic pain associated with FBSS; pregabalin was significantly more effective irrespective of the patients' gender.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.754-762
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• 2000

Objectives : The surgical results of 80 patients with growth hormone(GH)-producing pituitary adenoma were analyzed retrospectively to evaluate the clinical manifestations and to determine which preoperative factors significantly influenced the surgical outcome. Patients and Methods : The patients consisted of 39 men and 41 women and the age of patients at the time of initial operation ranged from 17 to 67 years(mean age, 40.5 years) Between January 1990 and June 1996, 77 patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery and 3 patients underwent craniotomy for GH-producing pituitary adenoma at our institution. Preoperative administration of octreotide was performed in 18 patients. Surgical control was defined as a postoperative serum basal level of GH less than 5ng/ml. A logistic regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis. Probability value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results : The most common presenting symptom was acromegaly, followed by headache, visual disturbance, and fatigability. Visual symptoms were present in 39% of the patients. Diabetes mellitus was associated in 24 patients and hypertension in 12. Preoperative mean basal level of GH was 93.2ng/ml(range 72-500ng/ml) which was closely related with tumor size(p<0.05). Grade II by Hardy's classification was the most common radiological type. Preoperative octreotide treatment significantly reduced the level of GH(p<0.05), but not enough to induce endocrinological remission. One patient died of cerebral infarction after craniotomy. The most common surgical complication was transient diabetes insipidus. The symptom of the earliest improvement after surgery was paresthesia and tightness of the hand and foot, followed by headache and easy fatigability. The preoperative visual symptom was improved in all patients. The patients who had hypertension or DM experienced alleviated symptoms in 67% and 92%, respectively. The overall rate of endocrinological remission was 44%. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, the size of tumor, extrasellar extension, and extent of removal were significant prognostic factors for endocrinologial remission. Conclusion : Early detection of a small tumor without extrasellar extension followed by a complete resection is highly recommended in order to achieve endocrinological cure of GH-producing pituitary adenomas.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권sup2호
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• pp.203-210
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• 2001

목 적 : Paraclinoidal aneurysm은 두개강내 내경동맥 근위부에서 후교통동맥 기시부까지 생기는 뇌동맥류를 말한다. 이들 동맥류의 수술의 기술적인 문제는 근위혈관의 지혈과 안전한 동맥류로의 접근 및 뇌동맥류 경부의 완전한 노출을 고려해야 한다. 저자들은 최소침윤법의 개념으로 수술의 효율성에 대해서 관심을 가지고 수술하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 저자들은 과거 4년간 171명의 뇌동맥류 수술환자를 경험하였으며 그중 10명의 paracliniodal aneurysm환자를 수술하였고 10명중 2명은 비파열된 동맥류를 가지고 있었다. 평균 연령은 47세 였으며 전부 여자 환자였다. 그중 3명의 환자는 proximal posterior carotid artery에서 기원하였으며 4명의 환자는 carotid-ophthalmic artery에서 기원했고 나머지 3명은 superior hypophyseal artery에서 기원하였다. 결 과 : 전례에서 결찰술을 시행했으며 수술결과는 매우 양호했으며, 이들 중 뇌수두증이 있었던 1례를 제외하고 신경학적인 결손과 사망한 환자는 없었다. 시력장애증상은 4명의 환자에서 호소했지만 그중 2명은 수술후 회복되었고 나머지 2명은 더 이상 악화되지는 않았다. 결 론 : 최근 저자들의 경험에 비추어 볼 때, 수술전 진단적 혈관조형술의 정교함이 크기와 무관하게 모든 paraclinoidal aneurysm의 분류에 도움이 된다고 생각하며, 이러한 분류가 각각의 동맥류에 따른 수술적 접근을 용이하게 함으로서 대부분의 환자에서 시각능력 향상뿐만 아니라 좋은 수술결과를 초래 할 수 있고 불필요한 수기를 배제함으로서 수술시간도 단축될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.173-179
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• 2001

Purpose : To assess therapeutic effects of percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) vertebroplasty on the pain caused by osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar vertebral body compression fractures in a large scale of a prospective clinical design, and to determine clinical factors influencing its therapeutic effects. Methods : A prospective clinical study was carried out in 349 vertebral levels of 159 patients between April 1998 and July 1999. The compression fractures were confirmed with bone scan and spine CT, and bone marrow density was measured. Visual analogue scale(VAS) score was used for pre- and post-operative assessments of the pain. All 159 patients were assessed immediately after surgery, and 140 patients of them were followed-up for about 6 months in average. Results : Partial and complete pain relief was sustained immediately after operation in 73%, through follow-up period in 88% of the patients. Pain relief was not proportional to the amount of PMMA or the rate of increase in the height of the compressed vertebral body. It appears that 3 to 6cc of PMMA was proper enough to sustain pain relief. Better clinical improvement was achieved in the patients treated within 6 months after occurrence of vertebral body fracture. The most frequent surgical complication was epidural leakage of PMMA, and the most serious complication was extravertebral leakage into the paravertebral muscles, which appeared to exert the worst influence on the outcome. However, surgery was not required in these patients. Conclusion : Therapeutic effects of PMMA percutaneous vertebroplasty on osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures were confirmed in a relatively large scale of prospective clinical study. It appears that good outcome can be achieved in patients treated within 6 months after fracture, treated each level with 3 to 6cc of PMMA in amount. without serious complications.

• 대한족부족관절학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.100-104
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• 2018

Purpose: An axillary crutch is the most commonly used assistive device in foot and ankle patients who require nonweightbearing. On the other hand, its use frequently induces axillary or wrist pain and critical neurovascular injuries have been reported in several studies. This study compared the clinical outcomes of patients using the knee walker and axillary crutch. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed comparing the utility of a knee walker and axillary crutch as a nonweightbearing ambulatory aid for 62 foot and ankle patients treated between November 2016 and March 2018. A comparative study of the two orthosis could be performed because all the patients temporarily used an axillary crutch before or after the use of a knee walker. A demographic study and comparative analysis based on the visual analogue scale (VAS) satisfaction score (0~100), complications, and fall down history were evaluated. Furthermore, under the assumption of having retreatment, their preference of orthosis between the knee walker and axillary crutch was investigated. Results: The mean age of the patients was 36.5 and the mean duration of ambulation with a knee walker and axillary crutch were 5.2 and 2.4 weeks. The VAS satisfaction score of the knee walker and crutch was 88.8 and 27.5, respectively (p<0.05). The most frequent complications of the knee walker and crutch were ipsilateral knee pain (6 cases) and axillary or wrist pain (56 cases), respectively. No case of falling down occurred during knee walker ambulation, but there were two cases of crutch ambulation. Fifty-eight patients (93.5%) preferred the knee walker and four patients (6.5%) preferred a crutch. Conclusion: Compared to the axillary crutch, the knee walker afforded lower complication and higher satisfaction. Most patients preferred the knee walker to a crutch. Therefore, the knee walker is an efficient and safe orthosis for foot and ankle patients who require nonweightbearing.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.156-163
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• 2011

Purpose: To evaluate long-term local control rate and toxicity in patients treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for pituitary adenomas. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 60 patients treated with EBRT for pituitary adenoma at Korea University Medical Center from 1996 and 2006. Thirty-five patients had hormone secreting tumors, 25 patients had non-secreting tumors. Fifty-seven patients had received postoperative radiotherapy (RT), and 3 had received RT alone. Median total dose was 54 Gy (range, 36 to 61.2 Gy). The definition of tumor progression were as follows: evidence of tumor progression on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, worsening of clinical sign requiring additional operation or others, rising serum hormone level against a previously stable or falling value, and failure of controlling serum hormone level so that the hormone level had been far from optimal range until last follow-up. Age, sex, hormone secretion, tumor extension, tumor size, and radiation dose were analyzed for prognostic significance in tumor control. Results: Median follow-up was 5.7 years (range, 2 to 14.4 years). The 10-year actuarial local control rates for non-secreting and secreting adenomas were 96% and 66%, respectively. In univariate analysis, hormone secretion was significant prognostic factor (p = 0.042) and cavernous sinus extension was marginally significant factor (p = 0.054) for adverse local control. All other factors were not significant. In multivariate analysis, hormone secretion and gender were significant. Fifty-three patients had mass-effect symptoms (headache, dizziness, visual disturbance, hypopituitarism, loss of consciousness, and cranial nerve palsy). A total of 17 of 23 patients with headache and 27 of 34 patients with visual impairment were improved. Twenty-seven patients experienced symptoms of endocrine hypersecretion (galactorrhea, amenorrhea, irregular menstruation, decreased libido, gynecomastia, acromegaly, and Cushing's disease). Amenorrhea was abated in 7 of 10 patients, galactorrhea in 8 of 8 patients, acromegaly in 7 of 11 patients, Cushing's disease in 4 of 4 patients. Long-term complication was observed in 4 patients; 3 patients with cerebrovascular accident, 1 patient developed dementia. Of these patients, 3 of 4 received more than 60 Gy of irradiation. Conclusion: EBRT is highly effective in preventing recurrence and reducing mass effect of non-secreting adenoma. Effort to improve tumor control of secreting adenoma is required. Careful long-term follow-up is required when relatively high dose is applied. Modern radiosurgery or proton RT may be options to decrease late complications.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.297-305
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• 1998

최근에 Roller loop electrode를 이용한 경요도전립선전기기화술에 관심이 집중되고 있다. 저자들은 전립선비대증에서 전립선전기기화술의 가치를 알아보기 위해 Roller loop electrode를 이용한 전립선전기기화술(TEVP, 17례)을 레이저전립선절제술(VLAP, 39례)과 전통적 경요도전립선절제술(TURP, 59례)과 비교 분석해 보았다. TEVP는 효과 면에서는 전통적인 경요도전립선절제술에는 미치진 못하지만 VLAP과는 유사한 효과를 보였으며 안전성면과 경제적인 면에서는 VLAP을 능가하는 치료법으로 사료된다. 본 연구가 적은 환자를 대상으로 10개월까지 관찰한 결과이고 경요도전립선전기기화술의 초기 경험이라 명확한 결론을 내리기에는 다소 성급한 면이 있으나 전통적인 전립선절제술에 비해 짧은 입원기간, 짧은 요도관유치 기간 및 적은 출혈 등을 보여주며 레이저 시술의 단점인 고가장비가 필요 없다는 점에서는 전통적 전립선절제술의 대체 술기로 높이 평가되어진다.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.100-104
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• 1993

저자들은 두개저 골절을 동반하지 않은 단순 안면골 골절환자에서 본과에서 안면골 정복 수술후 발현한 외상성 경동맥해변동루 환자를 신경외과에 의뢰하여 분리풍선술식으로 처치한 후 현저한 임상적 증상의 개선을 가져왔고 12개월간 관찰시 다른 합병증도 유발되지 않았다. 외상성 경동맥해면동루는 두경부 손상시 매우 드물게 발생되는 심각한 합병증으로 임상증상의 복잡성 때문에 혼동하기 쉬으므로 Neurosurgeon과 협조하여 조기에 정확한 진단과 적절한 치료가 이루어지는 것이 바람직하다.