A vertebral fracture is the most common type of osteoporotic fracture. Osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) cause a variety of morbidities and deaths. There are currently few “gold standard treatments” outlined for the management of OVFs in terms of quantity and quality. Conservative treatment is the primary treatment option for OVFs. The treatment of pain includes short-term bed rest, analgesic medication, anti-osteoporotic medications, exercise, and a brace. Numerous reports have been made on studies for vertebral augmentation (VA), including vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. There is still debate and controversy about the effectiveness of VA in comparison with conservative treatment. Until more robust data are available, current evidence does not support the routine use of VA for OVF. Despite the fact that the majority of OVFs heal without surgery, 15%–35% of patients with an unstable fracture, persistent intractable back pain, or severely collapsed vertebra that causes a neurologic deficit, kyphosis, or chronic pseudarthrosis frequently require surgery. Because no single approach can guarantee the best surgical outcomes, customized surgical techniques are required. Surgeons must stay current on developments in the osteoporotic spine field and be open to new treatment options. Osteoporosis management and prevention are critical to lowering the risk of future OVFs. Clinical studies on bisphosphonate’s effects on fracture healing are lacking. Teriparatide was intermittently administered, which dramatically improved spinal fusion and fracture healing while lowering mortality risk. According to the available literature, there are no standard management methods for OVFs. More multimodal approaches, including conservative and surgical treatment, VA, and medications that treat osteoporosis and promote fracture healing, are required to improve the quality of the majority of guidelines.

Background: and Purpose: Blood pressure (BP) control is strongly recommended, but BP control rate has not been well studied in patients with stroke. We evaluated the BP control rate with fimasartan-based antihypertensive therapy initiated in patients with recent cerebral ischemia. Methods: This multicenter, prospective, single-arm trial involved 27 centers in South Korea. Key inclusion criteria were recent cerebral ischemia within 90 days and high BP [systolic blood pressure (SBP) >140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >90 mm Hg]. BP lowering was initiated with fimasartan. BP management during the follow-up was at the discretion of the responsible investigators. The primary endpoint was the target BP goal achievement rate (<140/90 mm Hg) at 24 weeks. Key secondary endpoints included achieved BP and BP changes at each visit, and clinical events (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03231293). Results: Of 1,035 patients enrolled, 1,026 were included in the safety analysis, and 951 in the efficacy analysis. Their mean age was 64.1 years, 33% were female, the median time interval from onset to enrollment was 10 days, and the baseline SBP and DBP were 162.3±16.0 and 92.2±12.4 mm Hg (mean±SD). During the study period, 55.5% of patients were maintained on fimasartan monotherapy, and 44.5% received antihypertensive therapies other than fimasartan monotherapy at at least one visit. The target BP goal achievement rate at 24-week was 67.3% (48.6% at 4-week and 61.4% at 12-week). The mean BP was 139.0/81.8±18.3/11.7, 133.8/79.2±16.4/11.0, and 132.8/78.5±15.6/10.9 mm Hg at 4-, 12-, and 24-week. The treatment-emergent adverse event rate was 5.4%, including one serious adverse event. Conclusions Fimasartan-based BP lowering achieved the target BP in two-thirds of patients at 24 weeks, and was generally well tolerated.

Background: and Purpose: Blood pressure (BP) control is strongly recommended, but BP control rate has not been well studied in patients with stroke. We evaluated the BP control rate with fimasartan-based antihypertensive therapy initiated in patients with recent cerebral ischemia. Methods: This multicenter, prospective, single-arm trial involved 27 centers in South Korea. Key inclusion criteria were recent cerebral ischemia within 90 days and high BP [systolic blood pressure (SBP) >140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >90 mm Hg]. BP lowering was initiated with fimasartan. BP management during the follow-up was at the discretion of the responsible investigators. The primary endpoint was the target BP goal achievement rate (<140/90 mm Hg) at 24 weeks. Key secondary endpoints included achieved BP and BP changes at each visit, and clinical events (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03231293). Results: Of 1,035 patients enrolled, 1,026 were included in the safety analysis, and 951 in the efficacy analysis. Their mean age was 64.1 years, 33% were female, the median time interval from onset to enrollment was 10 days, and the baseline SBP and DBP were 162.3±16.0 and 92.2±12.4 mm Hg (mean±SD). During the study period, 55.5% of patients were maintained on fimasartan monotherapy, and 44.5% received antihypertensive therapies other than fimasartan monotherapy at at least one visit. The target BP goal achievement rate at 24-week was 67.3% (48.6% at 4-week and 61.4% at 12-week). The mean BP was 139.0/81.8±18.3/11.7, 133.8/79.2±16.4/11.0, and 132.8/78.5±15.6/10.9 mm Hg at 4-, 12-, and 24-week. The treatment-emergent adverse event rate was 5.4%, including one serious adverse event. Conclusions Fimasartan-based BP lowering achieved the target BP in two-thirds of patients at 24 weeks, and was generally well tolerated.

Background: and purpose Whether pharmacologically altered high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) affects the risk of cardiovascular events is unknown. Recently, we have reported the Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Asian Patients with Ischaemic Stroke at High Risk of Cerebral Haemorrhage (PICASSO) trial that demonstrated the non-inferiority of cilostazol to aspirin and superiority of probucol to non-probucol for cardiovascular prevention in ischemic stroke patients (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01013532). We aimed to determine whether on-treatment HDL-C changes by cilostazol and probucol influence the treatment effect of each study medication during the PICASSO study. Methods: Of the 1,534 randomized patients, 1,373 (89.5%) with baseline cholesterol parameters were analyzed. Efficacy endpoint was the composite of stroke, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis examined an interaction between the treatment effect and changes in HDL-C levels from randomization to 1 month for each study arm. Results: One-month post-randomization mean HDL-C level was significantly higher in the cilostazol group than in the aspirin group (1.08 mmol/L vs. 1.00 mmol/L, P<0.001). The mean HDL-C level was significantly lower in the probucol group than in the non-probucol group (0.86 mmol/L vs. 1.22 mmol/L, P<0.001). These trends persisted throughout the study. In both study arms, no significant interaction was observed between HDL-C changes and the assigned treatment regarding the risk of the efficacy endpoint. Conclusions Despite significant HDL-C changes, the effects of cilostazol and probucol treatment on the risk of cardiovascular events were insignificant. Pharmacologically altered HDL-C levels may not be reliable prognostic markers for cardiovascular risk.

BACKGROUND: Small proportions of all the elderly stroke patients receive recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA) therapy, although old age is not a proven contraindication to intravenous thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke. The purpose of this study was to identify reasons for exclusion from r-tPA therapy and factors associated with the decision of r-tPA use in elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: From the acute stroke registries of 22 domestic university hospitals taking the r-tPA therapy from January 2007 to May 2010, we extracted data of all acute ischemic stroke patients who were aged 80 or over and arrived within onset 3 hours. For all patients, we assessed the eligibility of r-tPA therapy using National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) r-tPA trial criteria. For eligible patients, we compared all clinical variables between patients who were treated with r-tPA and those who were not, and analyzed potential factors related to the decision of r-tPA use. RESULTS: A total of 494 patients were included in this study. 255 patients (51.6%) were excluded by NINDS r-tPA trial criteria and the major reasons for exclusion were minor neurological deficit (53.7%) and clinical improvement (17.3%). Among 239 patients who were eligible for r-tPA, 162 (32.8%) patients received r-tPA and 77 (15.6%) did not. Multivariable analysis showed that younger age, shorter time-delay from onset to admission, non-smoker, no history of prior stroke, good pre-stroke functional status and severe initial neurological deficit were independently associated with the decision of r-tPA use in the elderly stroke patients predictors for r-tPA treatment. CONCLUSION: In very elderly patients, mild neurological deficit on arrival and rapid clinical improvement in neurological symptoms were the main reasons for exclusion from thrombolytic therapy.
Aged ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke ; Registries ; Stroke ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to identify the age-related inceased risks of the elderly gravida over 35 or 40 years at delivery by clarifying the effects of age and parity, their combination, and their interaction and the relationships of other complications. METHODS: We have made meta analysis about general and clinical characteristics of elderly gravida over the aged 35 or 40 years, based on the 7 domestic theses since 1996 year at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. RESULTS: The results were obtained as follows; In elderly gravida over the aged 35 or 40 years at delivery, maternal and neonatal outcomes were generally good, but in study group, there were a high incidence of gestational (preterm delivery, fetal presentation, pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diadetes, placenta previa, premature rupture of membranes) complications, uterine myoma during pregnancy and low birth weight in neonate after delivery. CONCLUSION: The increased risks of the elderly gravida over the aged 35 or 40 years at delivery may have been overshadowed by the previous focus on the elderly nullipara. In spite of high incidence of maternal morbidity, the overall maternal and neonatal outcomes were generally good. It is important to recognize what is more important in age-related pregnant-risks of the elderly gravida over the aged 35 or 40 years at delivery to appropriate counsel and manage this group of patients. This informations may be helpful for counsel in elderly gravida over the aged 35 or 40 years who are considering pregnancy.
Aged* ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Labor Presentation ; Leiomyoma ; Obstetrics ; Parity ; Placenta Previa ; Pregnancy* ; Rupture

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study OBJECTIVES: To try and find the best surgical technique by analyzing the real-time video taken during a percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar lumbar discectomy. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: A percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy, using an interlaminar approach, has superior aspects, such as anatomical similarity with that of open spinal surgery, and applicability regardless of the herniated level. However, the technical difficulty can be an obstacle to shortening of the learning-curve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2005 and January 2006, 56 patients who were underwent an operation at our hospital, due to single level (L4-5 or L5-S1) herniated lumbar disc disease, by one surgeon, and were selected for this study. The procedure was divided by the approach; either ligament flavum resection, partial removal of the lamina or root identification and discectomy. By analyzing the real-time video taken during the operation, as well as checking the time taken for each procedure, the factors influencing the prolongation of surgery time can be sought, and efforts made to shorten the operation time. RESULTS: The mean operation time was 65 minutes (28 minutes~127 minutes). The mean operation times in patients either requiring or not requiring partial removal of the lamina were 84 minutes (45 minutes~127 minutes) and 45 minutes (28 minutes~91 minutes), respectively, and also showed a statistically significant correlation (p=0.023). The mean operation times for the first and last 10 cases were 107 and 48 minutes, respectively. 3 cases needed revision open surgery due to failed symptom resolution. The procedures affecting a prolonged operation time were partial removal the lamina and ligament flavum resection. The time required for ligament flavum resection plateaued after 20 cases, and that for partial removal of the lamina reached plateau after 19 cases. CONCLUSIONS: By overcoming such technical problems, shortening of the learning-curve for a percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar lumbar discectomy was possible.
Diskectomy* ; Humans ; Learning Curve* ; Learning* ; Ligaments ; Retrospective Studies

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disorder of unknown cause. The isolated noduar type muscular sarcoidosis without other systemic involvement is very rare in Korea. We report a case of sarcoidosis presented with myofasciitis. A 46-year-old man visited hospital with painful nodular swelling on the right arm for 1 month. We performed a humerus MRI and it revealed irregular shaped subcutaneous mass infiltrating along the fascial plane. The biopsy of triceps mass showed non-caseating granuloma of muscle and fascia. To find out the cause of granuloma, we checked chest CT scan and found out some enlargement of mediastinal lymph nodes. The biopsy also demonstrated non-caseating granulomas. It had no cancerous component and culture for microorganisms were all negative. He was diagnosed as sarcoidosis and given NSAID. On follow up evaluation, the size of mass was decreased.
Arm ; Biopsy ; Fascia ; Fasciitis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Humerus ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Myositis ; Sarcoidosis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Peroxidase*