Unenhanced echocardiography (UE), commonly used in veterinary practice, is limited by left ventricular (LV) foreshortening and observer dependency. Contrast echocardiography (CE) was used to compare two-dimensional (2D) LV measurements made using UE and 256-row multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) as a reference standard. Seven healthy beagle dogs were evaluated in this study. Measurements obtained using CE, including LV wall thickness, internal diameter, and longitudinal and transverse length, were significantly greater than those obtained using UE. Measurements of LV internal dimension in diastole (LVIDd) and systole (LVIDs) were significantly larger with CE compared UE. Regardless of the cardiac cycle, LV longitudinal (LVLd and LVLs) and transverse diameter (LVTDd and LVTDs) measurements were significantly different with CE and approximated values from MDCT. Among automatically calculated parameters, LV end-systolic volume and the relative wall thickness were significantly different between UE and CE. In CE, the correlation coefficients of 4 major parameters (r = 0.87 in LVIDd; 0.91 in LVIDs; 0.87 in LVLd; and 0.81 in LVLs) showed higher values compared to the UE (r = 0.68 in LVIDd, 0.71 in LVIDs, 0.69 in LVLd, and 0.35 in LVLs). Inter-observer agreement was highest for MDCT and higher for CE than UE. In conclusion, CE is more accurate and reproducible than UE in assessing 2D LV measurements and can overcome the limitations of UE including LV foreshortening and high observer dependency.
Animals ; Diastole ; Dogs ; Echocardiography ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Systole

Advertising in the medical and legal fields, which are among Korea's leading professions, has increasingly utilized major advertising platforms such as LawTalk and UNNI—two of the most prominent and contentious platforms in their respective fields. While it is generally unproblematic for professionals like lawyers and doctors to promote public interest through advertising on these commercial platforms, the creation of a profit-driven structure has the potential to undermine their professional ecosystems. This article explores the issues associated with advertising in the medical field through large commercial platforms, drawing on notable examples from the legal and medical fields in Korea. Specifically, we analyze two of the most popular yet controversial platforms in these sectors, LawTalk and UNNI. In Korea, the format and method of advertising are legal as long as they do not involve referring or soliciting clients, thereby making platform advertising lawful when used solely for that purpose. Nevertheless, it is crucial to prevent medical advertising platforms from establishing market monopolies by skirting various profit regulations and laws. In response to these concerns, the Korean Bar Association has prohibited all advertisements by platform companies. The medical community should closely examine the rationale and process behind this decision. Given the significant social influence of large corporate platforms and the unique social responsibilities of the medical and legal professions, future platform advertising should be subject to distinct legal and institutional regulations that differ from those applied to general services.

Purpose: To compare the subfoveal choroidal vascularity indices (CVIs) of treatment-naïve patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) with controls. Methods: Twenty-one eyes of 21 treatment-naïve CRVO patients and 42 age- and sex-matched control eyes (of 42 subjects) lacking any retinal disease were included. The subfoveal CVIs were measured using ImageJ software. Results: The mean subfoveal CVI in eyes with treatment-naïve CRVO at the initial visit was significantly higher than that of control eyes (0.6464 ± 0.0326 vs. 0.6209 ± 0.0434 respectively; p = 0.024). In contrast, no significant difference in the mean subfoveal CVI was found between CRVO eyes 6 months after initial diagnosis and control eyes (0.6311 ± 0.0600 vs. 0.6209 ± 0.0434 respectively; p = 0.238). Of the 21 eyes with CRVO, 18 (85.7%) received intravitreal injections (bevacizumab, ranibizumab, aflibercept, or triamcinolone) and four (19.0%) underwent panretinal photocoagulation. Conclusions The subfoveal CVI of eyes with treatment-naïve CRVO at the initial visit was significantly higher than that of control eyes, but decreased by 6 months. Further studies are needed to determine whether CRVO treatments such as intravitreal injection or panretinal photocoagulation affect choroid hemodynamics.

Remote collaborative care is a program that improves medical services by linking local and remote physicians with residents in areas where access to medical facilities is limited, utilizing information and communication technology. As a result, patients can obtain medical advice and counseling at local hospitals without needing to travel to distant facilities. This care model involves communication between doctors, facilitating the accurate transfer of medical information and reducing the risk of misunderstandings. For instance, managing conditions such as blood pressure or blood glucose is more straightforward because a local hospital can assess the patient's status while a remote hospital simultaneously provides high-quality, specialized medical services. With the rise in poorly controlled hypertension or diabetes, the need for remote collaborative care has also increased. This care model enables local hospitals to maintain continuous patient care with the support of remote facilities. This is particularly true following acute cardiovascular treatment, where local hospitals, assisted by remote institutions, can safely offer high-quality services such as rehabilitation and follow-up care. Although remote hospitals have many advantages with the increasing number of patients, many difficulties remain in commercializing unsystematized remote collaborative care. Specifically, low reimbursements for medical services must be addressed, proper equipment is needed, more time and effort must be invested, and the liability issue must also be dealt with. Nevertheless, remote collaborative care using information and communication technology will be necessary in the future. Medical staff need to objectively examine the advantages and disadvantages of remote collaborative care from various perspectives and find ways to revitalize it.

Objectives: There is no consensus on whether giving adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is more effective than adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) alone in patients with early stage cervical cancer and intermediate-risk factor(s). The purpose of this study was to evaluate survival difference according to adjuvant treatment in the intermediate-risk group. Methods: From 2000 to 2014, the medical records of patients with stage IB–IIA cervical cancer and a history of radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection, followed by pelvic RT at a dose ≥40 Gy were retrospectively reviewed. Among these, 316 patients with one or more intermediate-risk factor(s) and no high-risk factors were included. The criteria defined the intermediate-risk group as those patients with any of the following intermediate-risk factors: lymphovascular space involvement, over one-half stromal invasion, or tumor size ≥4 cm. Results: The median follow-up duration was 70 months (range: 3–203 months). According to adjuvant treatment (adjuvant RT alone vs. adjuvant CCRT), the 5-year recurrence-free survival rates (90.8% vs. 88.9%, p=0.631) and 5-year overall survival rates (95.9% vs. 91.0%, p=0.287) did not show a significant difference in patients with any of the intermediate-risk factors. In multivariate analysis, a distinct survival difference according to adjuvant treatment was not found regardless of the number of risk factors. Conclusion The present study showed that giving RT together with chemotherapy is not more effective than RT alone for stage IB–IIA cervical cancer patients with intermediate-risk factor(s).

Background: Remote collaborative care (ReCC) is a legally recognized form of telehealth that facilitates communication between physicians. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of ReCC services and establish a foundation for the usefulness and effectiveness of ReCC. Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the Digital Healthcare Information System (DHIS) managed by the Korea Social Security Information Service. We extracted data on patients who were registered from January 2017 through September 2023 to investigate the effects of various factors. Results: A total of 10,407 individuals participated in the remote collaborative consultation service provided by the DHIS. Of these participants, those aged ≥80 years represented 39.2% (4,085 patients), while those aged 70 to 79 years comprised 36.9% (3,838 patients). The conditions treated included hypertension, affecting 69.2% (7,203 patients), and diabetes, affecting 21.1% (2,201 patients). Although various measurement items were recorded, most data beyond blood pressure readings were missing, posing a challenge for analysis. Notably, there was a significant reduction in blood pressure that was sustained at follow-up intervals of 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-baseline (all P<0.05). Conclusions Owing to the lack of data, follow-up assessments for conditions other than hypertension proved to be challenging. Medical staff should increase their focus on and engagement with the system. Remote consultations have demonstrated efficacy in managing hypertension in medically underserved areas, where access to healthcare services is often limited. This suggests the potential for expanded use of remote chronic care in the future.

PURPOSE: We investigated the long-term outcomes of vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling as treatment for myopic traction maculopathy (MTM).METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent vitrectomy to treat MTM were retrospectively evaluated. We excluded patients who exhibited macular holes (MHs) or retinal detachment at the time of primary surgery. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveal thickness (CFT) were analyzed preoperatively, at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery, and at the final visit. Complications including retinal detachment or an MH were noted during follow-up.RESULTS: Twenty-three eyes of 22 patients were enrolled. At the time of primary surgery, the mean patient age was 64.4 ± 11.1 years and the baseline mean logMAR BCVA and CFT, 0.67 ± 0.50 and 431.8 ± 159.5 µm, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 53.7 ± 19.3 months. The mean logMAR BCVAs at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively and at the final visit were 0.42 ± 0.39 (p = 0.001), 0.41 ± 0.38 (p = 0.001), 0.39 ± 0.40 (p < 0.001), 0.42 ± 0.43 (p < 0.001), and 0.51 ± 0.47 (p = 0.016), respectively, thus significantly better than the baseline value. The mean CFT at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively and at the final visit were 244.6 ± 72.3, 210.5 ± 79.1, 209.6 ± 91.6, 219.8 ± 93.9, and 217.7 ± 81.3 µm, respectively, thus significantly less than baseline (all p < 0.001). MTM resolved in 18 eyes (78.3%) after primary surgery, without any complication, and remained stable to the final visit.CONCLUSIONS: Vitrectomy with ILM peeling afforded favorable long-term efficacy and safety in MTM patients.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Membranes ; Myopia, Degenerative ; Prognosis ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinal Perforations ; Retinoschisis ; Retrospective Studies ; Traction ; Visual Acuity ; Vitrectomy

A 7-year-old spayed female Shih Tzu dog was presented for evaluation of recurrent hypoglycemia. Serum insulin levels during hypoglycemia were 35.3 μIU/mL. Ultrasonography and computed tomography showed a mesenteric nodule between the kidney and the portal vein, but no pancreatic mass was observed. During surgery, the nodule had neither anatomical adhesions nor vascular connections to the pancreas. Pancreatic inspection and palpation revealed no abnormalities. Hypoglycemia improved after resection of the nodule.Histopathological examination confirmed the nodule to be an islet cell carcinoma. Although extremely rare, ectopic insulinoma should be considered as a possible cause of insulininduced hypoglycemia in dogs.

Background: Heartworm infection in dogs is caused by Dirofilaria immitis and common in shelter animals and outdoors dogs. Caval syndrome can develop with severe infection and physical heartworm removal is essential with heartworm burdens. In this study, we used an improved transvenous heartworm extraction brush, which was expected to cause less cardiovascular damage and allow easier manipulation. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate efficacy of this improved transvenous heartworm extraction brush. Methods: The brush was designed to improve upon the limitations of the previous brushtype devices. The brush was made of a polyvinyl chloride tube and threads of polyamides or polyglyconates. Metal material was inserted at the front tip for easy visualization under fluoroscopy. The eight dogs diagnosed with caval syndrome with large numbers of heartworms and pulmonary hypertension were used in this study. The removal procedure began with the dissection of the subcutaneous tissue around the right jugular vein. The device was inserted through the jugular vein. After insertion, the tube was rotated to catch the heartworms and extracted with the heartworms hanging on the threads. The procedure was repeated several times. Lastly, jugular vein and skin sutures were made. Adulticidal therapy was administered after heartworm removal. Results: The mean number of removed heartworms was 10.5 ± 4.24 and mean number of remaining heartworms was 0.63 ± 1.06. Total procedure time was 72.63 ± 51.36. Except for three cases, heartworms were not detected on ultrasonography after the procedure. No procedure-related side effects were observed within the 1- to 2-mon. Conclusions An improved transvenous heartworm extraction brush is efficient for heartworm removal in dogs with caval syndrome.

An adult raccoon dog with extensive, deep, and contaminated wounds on the right hip and multiple fractures was rescued. The open wound was managed daily by debridement and flushing for 3 weeks. Modified active drainage was then performed, and antibiotics administered according to the antibiotic susceptibility test. After 2 weeks, the exudate disappeared and the drain was removed. After monitoring for 1 month, the animal was released in to the wild. This case shows that even if infection remains, rapid wound repair is possible if appropriate antibiotic selection through regular examination and active drainage are combined.