Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate value of diagnostic tool for vocal cord palsy utilizing artificial intelligence without laryngoscopeMaterials and Method A dataset consisting of recordings from patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis (n=54) as well as normal individuals (n=163). The dataset included prolonged pronunciations of the vowels /ah/, /u/, /i/, and vocal cord data from paralyzed patients. Various acoustic parameters such as Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients, jitter, shimmer, harmonics-to-noise ratio, and fundamental frequency statistics were analyzed. The classification of vocal cord paralysis encompassed paralysis status, paralysis degree, and paralysis location. The deep learning model employed the leave-one-out method, and the feature set with the highest performance was selected using the following methods. Results: Vocal Cord Paralysis Classifier: The classifier accurately distinguished normal voice from vocal cord paralysis, achieving an accuracy and F1 score of 1.0. Paralysis Location Classifier: The classifier accurately differentiated between median and paramedian vocal cord paralysis, achieving an accuracy and micro F1 score of 1.0. Breathiness Degree Classifier: The classifier achieved an accuracy of 0.795 and a mean absolute error of 0.2857 in distinguishing different degrees of breathiness. Conclusion Although the small sample size raises concerns of potential overfitting, this preliminary study highlights distinctive acoustic features in cases of unilateral vocal fold paralysis compared to those of normal individuals. These findings suggest the feasibility of determining the presence, degree, and location of paralysis through the utilization of acoustic parameters. Further research is warranted to validate and expand upon these results.

Splenic artery aneurysms, no longer considered rare, occur in 10% of patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. But, spontaneous rupture of splenic artery aneurysm is a rare condition. Due to a fatal rupture, they are considered dangerous. Rupture is often the first and only symptom. With an increased index of suspicion and early aggressive treatment of asymptomatic splenic artery aneurysms, mortality has drastically decreased. We experienced a case of splenic artery aneurysm rupture associated with liver cirrhosis. A 40-year-old female patient was admitted due to left upper quadrant pain. The patient was diagnosed as splenic artery aneurysm rupture with liver cirrhosis by celiac arteriogram and computed tomography. The patient was treated with splenic artery embolization and splenectomy, but the patient died. In this paper, the case of splenic artery aneurysm rupture associated with liver cirrhosis is reported with review of relevant literatures.
Adult ; Aneurysm* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Mortality ; Rupture* ; Rupture, Spontaneous ; Splenectomy ; Splenic Artery*

Purpose: There has been a lack of study on the pains of Korean archers, who have been getting remarkable results in international competitions. In this study, we investigated the epidemiology of shoulder pain, which is known as the most commonly complained symptom of Korean archers. Methods: The participants were 58 elite archers in the city of Gwangju, South Korea. The method of the study was a retrospective cohort study by questionnaire and ultrasound and physical examination. Variables of individual characteristics, training patterns, the character of pain were analyzed in different age groups. Furthermore, groups were divided into those with shoulder pain and those without pain to analyze each group’s shoulder function. Results: The most common injury was shoulder injury (65.6%), and hand injury was the second-highest prevalent injury (29.3%). These two injuries were most prevalent in all age groups. Among 58 participants, 40 showed shoulder pain, but most were mild (n=30, 51.7%) and severe pain was observed in some participants (n=2, 3.5%). Mild pain was most common in each group and it showed the highest prevalence in college students (70.0%). Pain was most observed in the drawing arm, and it was triggered most when drawing the bow. In the shoulder function test category, Constant-Murley score and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score were observed the lowest in the group with shoulder pain with statistical significance. Conclusion Shoulder injury had a high prevalence in Korean archers. Correspondingly, those with shoulder pain had lower shoulder function test scores.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma occurring in children, though retroperitoneal rhabdomyosarcoma is rare. We experienced a case of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the retroperitoneum in a 43-month-old child, and describe the CT , MRI and pathologic findings.
Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myosarcoma ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal* ; Sarcoma

Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) is a plant pathogen belonging to the Group IV positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses. TRV causes disease in various plants (e.g., potato, tomato and tobacco), for which it was classified as a controlled quarantine virus in Korea. This study aimed to develop specific primer sets for the rapid detection of TRV. Two RT-PCR primer sets were developed for specific detection of TRV. Furthermore, nested primer sets were also developed, which is required for high sensitivity detection in plant quarantine. The RT-PCR and nested PCR products had the following sizes: set 5 (1,096-->540 bp), and set 7 (878-->756 bp), respectively. In addition, a modified positive-control plasmid was also developed for use as a positive control in TRV quarantine. The diagnostic system for TRV detection was verified using samples from Korean quarantine sites for the last five years (2009-2014). A total of 83 cases were detected among various import crops. This system for detection of TRV will continuously contribute to plant quarantine in the future.
Korea ; Lycopersicon esculentum ; Plants* ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Quarantine* ; RNA Viruses ; Solanum tuberosum ; Tobacco*

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the tissue response in applying of various bone substitutes included toothash-plaster mixture, resorbable hydroxylapatite (HA) and demineralized freeze-dried bone and to show the clinical usefulness of toothash-plaster mixture for the repair of craniomaxillofacial bone defect. For this experiment, 100 Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200gm or more were used. There were four experimental groups: group I, toothash-plaster mixture; group II, demineralized freeze-dried bone; group III, resorbable HA; and group IV, control group. A full thickness, round bone defect measuring 10mm in diameter was created in the midcranium, and the substitutes cited above were embedded in the experimental rats based on their group assignment. Blood clot was filled in the rats assigned to the control group. Experimental rats were sacrificed on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 12th and 24th week after implantation and stained with the hematoxylin-eosin, Masson's Trichrome, using Van Gieson's stain method, and were examined under light microscope. The results were as follows: 1. In all the groups, prominent inflammatory reaction and the infiltration of multinucleated giant cells were noted during the early stage. Gradual healing decreased this reaction. 2. Among the rats in the experimental group II, which were given demineralized freeze-dried bone implants, active formation of new bone traveculae manifested. Chondroid tissues appeared, and it was suggested that the defect was filled with newly formed bone by virtue of osteoinductive activity. On the 12th week after the experiments, most of the defect was filled with newly formed bone trabeculae. 3. In experimental groups I and III, it was noted that HA manifested a healing process similar to that characterized by the toothash-plaster mixture, but inflammatory reaction was more prominent in experimental group I. Active osteoblasts were observed along the periphery of osteoid tissues, while newly formed bone trabeculae appeared adjacent to the implanted materials three weeks later. Formation increased to the extent that newly formed bone trabeculae fused directly with the host bone. Increase in new bone ingrowth into the filling materials was revealed by both experimental groups. 4. In the control group, new bone formation adjacent to the host bone was observed, but most of the defect was filled with mature connective tissue 24 weeks after the experiments.
Animals ; Bone Substitutes* ; Connective Tissue ; Durapatite ; Giant Cells ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Virtues

Hibernoma is a very rare, benign soft fatty tumor that derived from remnants of fetal brown tissue. The following case of hibernoma break out occurred from a patient who had received surgical resection of neurilemmoma. There has never been a case that reported about hibernoma accompanied by neurilemmoma. It is anticipated that this experience would be helpful to other physicians who are interested in this rare type of tumor.
Humans ; Lipoma ; Muscles ; Neurilemmoma

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis(CRMO) is an unusual inflammatory process involving multiple osseous sites. No causative agent can be consistently isolated from these lesions despite multiple biopsies and the affected child purses a clinical course of chronic remissions and exacerbations independent of antibiotic therapy. Biopsy of the lesions did not reveal any pathogens. Immunologic investigation revealed no abnormality common to the patient and there was no indication of a genetic etiology. The natural history of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis appears to be slow, spontaneous resolution of the osseous lesions without specific treatment. We experienced a case of CRMO in an 11-year-old girl who had complained of fever, pain on knee and wrist joints for several weeks. We studied the clinical, radiographic, histological findings in this patient and we report a case of CRMO with brief review of related literature.
Biopsy ; Child ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Knee ; Natural History ; Osteomyelitis* ; Wrist Joint

BACKGROUND: Commercial kits of PCR method are widely used in HLA-B27 typing; however, their cost is relatively high. In this study, we evaluated the utility of an in-house PCR method by comparing it with that of a commercial kit. METHODS: HLA-B27 typing was done in 188 patients by using two PCR methods, Absolute(TM) HLAB27 PCR kit (Biosewoom, Korea) and an in-house PCR method. The primers used in the in-house method were prepared by Bioneer (Korea). Both PCR tests were done by Gene Amp PCR System 9600 (Perkin-Elmer Centus Corp., USA). RESULTS: The commercial kit and in-house PCR showed 100% concordance rate with each other in HLA-B27 typing. Of 188 patients tested 72 (38.3%) were positive and 116 (61.7%) were negative by the both tests. Of 62 patients with ankylosing spondylitis, 50 were positive (80.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The in-house PCR is a reliable and cost-effective method and can replace or supplement commercial kits for HLA-B27 typing.
Adult ; Female ; HLA-B27 Antigen/blood/*genetics ; Histocompatibility Testing/*methods ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of routine pre-anesthetic aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) tests for detection of hepatic abnormalities and usefulness in perioperative management. METHODS: The laboratory findings of 14,185 pediatric patients younger than 18 years from October 2004 to December 2010 were investigated by retrospective review of medical records. All of the patients had undergone preoperative AST and ALT screening. RESULTS: Among the 14,185 patients, 221 patients experienced elevation of both AST and ALT. However, only 21 patients were suspicious for hepatic disease defined as persistent elevation of AST and ALT preoperatively. Among the 221 patients with elevation of both AST and ALT, 20 patients were examined by additional abdominal ultrasonography and hepatic abnormalities were detected in 13 of these patients (65%) and 40 patients were consulted to the department of pediatrics or internal medicine. CONCLUSIONS: In this single-center, retrograde study, the usefulness of preoperative routine AST and ALT testing was shown to be limited for detection of hepatic abnormalities in pediatric patients undergoing general anesthesia. Further multi-center, large-scale investigation would be required.
Alanine Transaminase* ; Alanine* ; Anesthesia, General ; Aspartate Aminotransferases* ; Aspartic Acid* ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Pediatrics ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography