Perforation of the pharynx due to external blunt trauma is an uncommon type of pharyngeal injury. It can lead to serious complications such as deep neck infection, sepsis, mediastinitis, and even mortality if not promptly recognized and treated. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent severe consequences and long-term complications. If the size of the injury is less than 2 cm and there is no invasion of the esophagus or mediastinum, conservative, nonsurgical treatment may be appropriate. In this case report, we present a case of retropharyngeal wall perforation following external blunt neck trauma with literature review.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics and factors of voluntary discharged patients after suicide attempt and analyze the effectiveness of follow-up measures. METHODS: Total 504 adult patients aged 14 years and over, who visited a local emergency medical center from September 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015 were enrolled and retrospectively reviewed. We analyzed the relationship with voluntary discharge group (VDG) among basic characteristics, suicidal attempt variables, outcome variables related to suicide attempts, and treatment related variables comparing with normal discharge group (NDG). RESULTS: Of the total 504 suicide attempts, three hundred eleven (61.7%) patients were VDG and 193 (38.2%) were NDG. The proportion of patients who completed the community service linkage were 18.7% (36/193) in NDG, compared with 7.7% (24/311) in VDG (p < 0.05). In addition, the ratio of the patients who visited psychiatric outpatient department in NDG were 57.0% (110/193), more than four times as likely as 14.5% (45/311) in VDG (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Over sixty percent of suicide attempters discharged against medical advice. Further various aspects of national supportive measures including strengthening case management service should be considered.
Adult ; Case Management ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Linear Energy Transfer* ; Outpatients ; Retrospective Studies ; Social Welfare ; Suicide ; Suicide, Attempted*

Background/Aims: Standard triple therapy (STT; proton pump inhibitor [PPI]+clarithromycin+amoxicillin) used for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication has shown low treatment success rates in recent years, which is most likely attributable to increased clarithromycin resistance. In this study, we compared treatment success rates of tailored therapy (TT) using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and empirical STT. Methods: This retrospective study included 650 patients with H. pylori infection, who visited Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital in Korea; 343 patients received TT based on RT-PCR assays, and 307 patients received STT. Eradication success was defined as a negative 13C-urea breath test result 4~8 weeks after treatment completion. Patients who failed first-line therapy and those with clarithromycin resistance received bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (BQT; PPI+bismuth+metronidazole+tetracycline). Results: Intention-to-treat analysis showed that H. pylori eradication rates were higher in patients who received RT-PCR–based TT than in those who were treated using empirical STT (80.5% [190/236] vs. 70.4% [216/307], P=0.069). Per-protocol (PP) analysis showed similar results (84.4% [190/225] vs. 74.7% [216/289], P=0.007). PP analysis showed that 7-day TT treatment was associated with a higher eradication rate than that observed with 10- to 14-day STT (85.2% [178/209] vs. 73.8% [59/80], P=0.029). The clarithromycin resistance rate was 27.9% (87/312). The eradication success rate was 89.2% (74/83) in patients with clarithromycin resistance, who received BQT as first-line therapy. Conclusions The treatment success rate was higher in patients who received 7-day RT-PCR–based TT than in those who were administered 10- to 14-day empirical treatment.

Leucine rich glioma inactivated (LGI1) encephalitis is an uncommon neurological disorder rarely encountered in clinical practice.However, it is a potentially fatal autoimmune syndrome that can decrease the level of consciousness, possibly progressing to coma.Additionally, unless diagnosed and promptly treated, it can cause permanent cognitive impairment. Since LGI1 encephalitis can initially present with psychiatric symptoms, there can be delays in reaching a proper diagnosis. This report describes a case of a 47-yearold woman with LGI1 antibodies-associated limbic encephalitis who initially presented with psychosis. Her blood tests were normal and no MRI and EEG abnormalities were found. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was negative for other possible infectious causes. Three months after admission, she was found to be LGI1 antibody positive. LGI1 encephalitis should be suspected in patients with symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, seizures, and psychiatric symptoms. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of LGI1 encephalitis are warranted because prognosis becomes worse when such actions are delayed.

Leucine rich glioma inactivated (LGI1) encephalitis is an uncommon neurological disorder rarely encountered in clinical practice.However, it is a potentially fatal autoimmune syndrome that can decrease the level of consciousness, possibly progressing to coma.Additionally, unless diagnosed and promptly treated, it can cause permanent cognitive impairment. Since LGI1 encephalitis can initially present with psychiatric symptoms, there can be delays in reaching a proper diagnosis. This report describes a case of a 47-yearold woman with LGI1 antibodies-associated limbic encephalitis who initially presented with psychosis. Her blood tests were normal and no MRI and EEG abnormalities were found. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis was negative for other possible infectious causes. Three months after admission, she was found to be LGI1 antibody positive. LGI1 encephalitis should be suspected in patients with symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, seizures, and psychiatric symptoms. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of LGI1 encephalitis are warranted because prognosis becomes worse when such actions are delayed.

Purpose: Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) supports tissue expanders or implants in implant-based breast reconstruction. The characteristics of ADM tissue are defined by the manufacturing procedure, such as decellularization, preservation, and sterilization, and are directly related to clinical outcomes. This study aimed to compare the properties of a new pre-hydrated-ADM (H-ADM-low) obtained using a decellularization reagent reduction process with a low concentration of detergent with those of radiation-sterilized H-ADM and freeze-dried ADM (FD-ADM). Methods: ADMs were evaluated in terms of structure, mechanical quality, and cytotoxicity using histochemical staining, tensile strength testing, and in vitro cell viability analysis. Results: The tissue structure of H-ADM-low (CGDERM ONE-STEP) was similar to that of native skin despite complete decellularization. By contrast, in FD-ADM, the tissue structure was damaged by the freeze-drying process, and radiation-sterilized H-ADM showed a compact fibrillar arrangement. Furthermore, matrix components such as collagen and elastin were preserved in H-ADM-low, whereas a loss of elastin fibers with fragmented distribution was observed in radiation-sterilized H-ADMs. H-ADM-low's tensile strength (58.84 MPa) was significantly greater than that of FD-ADM (38.60 MPa) and comparable with that of radiationsterilized H-ADMs. The residual detergent content in H-ADM-low (47.45 mg/L) was 2.67-fold lower than that of H-ADM decellularized with a conventional detergent concentration (126.99 mg/mL), and this finding was consistent with the cell viability results (90.7% and 70.7%, respectively), indicating that H-ADM-low has very low cytotoxicity. Conclusions H-ADM-low produced through aseptic processes retains the original tissue structure, demonstrates excellent mechanical properties, and does not affect cell viability.Therefore, this newer H-ADM is suitable for use in implant-based breast reconstruction.

Symptoms of tuberous scelrosis (TS) are mainly related with brain and kidneys. Seizure, mental retardation, other behavioral problems are dominant. A spectrum of renal tumors from benign angiomyolipoma (AML) to polycystic kidney disease, and rarely malignant renal cell carcinoma have been observed. Cystic AML is a rare phenotype of AML. No case of TS with renal cystic AML has been reported in Korea yet. And chronic kidney disease (CKD) in TS has been seldom reported. We experienced a TS case accompanied by renal cystic AML and CKD diagnosed in a 48-year-old female patient who was hospitalized for left side weakness and seizure under the diagnosis of acute cerebral infarction.
Angiomyolipoma* ; Brain ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* ; Sclerosis* ; Seizures ; Tuberous Sclerosis

Objective: This study aimed to validate a deep learning-based fully automatic calcium scoring (coronary artery calcium [CAC]_auto) system using previously published cardiac computed tomography (CT) cohort data with the manually segmented coronary calcium scoring (CAC_hand) system as the reference standard. Materials and Methods: We developed the CAC_auto system using 100 co-registered, non-enhanced and contrast-enhanced CT scans. For the validation of the CAC_auto system, three previously published CT cohorts (n = 2985) were chosen to represent different clinical scenarios (i.e., 2647 asymptomatic, 220 symptomatic, 118 valve disease) and four CT models. The performance of the CAC_auto system in detecting coronary calcium was determined. The reliability of the system in measuring the Agatston score as compared with CAC_hand was also evaluated per vessel and per patient using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman analysis. The agreement between CAC_auto and CAC_hand based on the cardiovascular risk stratification categories (Agatston score: 0, 1–10, 11–100, 101–400, > 400) was evaluated. Results: In 2985 patients, 6218 coronary calcium lesions were identified using CAC_hand. The per-lesion sensitivity and falsepositive rate of the CAC_auto system in detecting coronary calcium were 93.3% (5800 of 6218) and 0.11 false-positive lesions per patient, respectively. The CAC_auto system, in measuring the Agatston score, yielded ICCs of 0.99 for all the vessels (left main 0.91, left anterior descending 0.99, left circumflex 0.96, right coronary 0.99). The limits of agreement between CAC_auto and CAC_hand were 1.6 ± 52.2. The linearly weighted kappa value for the Agatston score categorization was 0.94. The main causes of false-positive results were image noise (29.1%, 97/333 lesions), aortic wall calcification (25.5%, 85/333 lesions), and pericardial calcification (24.3%, 81/333 lesions). Conclusion The atlas-based CAC_auto empowered by deep learning provided accurate calcium score measurement as compared with manual method and risk category classification, which could potentially streamline CAC imaging workflows.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Esophageal cancer and dysplasia are relatively rare in Korea, compared to other Far Eastern countries. So, the feasibility and safety of endoscopic treatments for these diseases is not well established in Korea. This study aimed to assess the technical feasibility, safety and the clinical outcomes of endoscopic treatment for esophageal epithelial lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 2005 and March 2013, 25 esophageal epithelial lesions from 22 patients were treated with endoscopic treatment such as endoscopic submucosal dissection or endoscopic mucosal resection. RESULTS: Of the 25 lesions, 11 lesions were treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) (ESD group) and 14 lesions with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR group). In the ESD group, the diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma in 7 patients (64%), high grade dysplasia in 3 patients (27%), and low grade dysplasia in 1 patient (9%). In the EMR group, thediagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma in 8 patients (57%), high grade dysplasia in 2 patients (14%), and low grade dysplasia in 4 patients (29%). En bloc resection rates were 100% in ESD and 42.9% in EMR, respectively. For the median 12 months follow up period, there was no recurrence in the ESD group. However, there were three recurrences in the EMR group. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic treatment for esophageal epithelial lesions is safe and feasible therapeutic modalities. Especially, ESD can provide higher rate of en bloc and curative resection for early esophageal cancer and dysplasia.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Diagnosis ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Recurrence