No abstract available.

We aimed to identify predictive markers of peri- and postpartum disorders in dairy cows. Data regarding peri- and postpartum disorders, serum metabolites, body condition score (BCS), and rectal temperature, were collected from 227 dairy cows, which were allocated to healthy (n = 57) and diseased (n = 170) groups. Serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration was higher in diseased than healthy cows 4 weeks before (p < 0.01) and immediately after (p = 0.05) calving. Serum alanine aminotransferase (AST) activity was higher (p < 0.05) in diseased than healthy cows 1 and 2 weeks after calving, whereas total cholesterol (TCH) concentration was lower (p < 0.05–0.0001) in diseased cows 4 weeks before, and after calving. BCS was higher (p < 0.05) in diseased than healthy cows 4 weeks before calving, but lower (p < 0.01) in diseased cows 8 weeks after calving. Rectal temperature was higher (p < 0.05–0.01) in diseased than healthy cows between 2 and 14 days postpartum. In conclusion, high serum NEFA and AST concentrations and lower TCH concentration during the peripartum period, and high prepartum BCS and postpartum rectal temperature, could be used as biomarkers to predict the subsequent development of peri- and postpartum disorders.
Alanine Transaminase ; Biomarkers ; Cholesterol ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Peripartum Period ; Postpartum Period

We aimed to identify predictive markers of peri- and postpartum disorders in dairy cows. Data regarding peri- and postpartum disorders, serum metabolites, body condition score (BCS), and rectal temperature, were collected from 227 dairy cows, which were allocated to healthy (n = 57) and diseased (n = 170) groups. Serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration was higher in diseased than healthy cows 4 weeks before (p < 0.01) and immediately after (p = 0.05) calving. Serum alanine aminotransferase (AST) activity was higher (p < 0.05) in diseased than healthy cows 1 and 2 weeks after calving, whereas total cholesterol (TCH) concentration was lower (p < 0.05–0.0001) in diseased cows 4 weeks before, and after calving. BCS was higher (p < 0.05) in diseased than healthy cows 4 weeks before calving, but lower (p < 0.01) in diseased cows 8 weeks after calving. Rectal temperature was higher (p < 0.05–0.01) in diseased than healthy cows between 2 and 14 days postpartum. In conclusion, high serum NEFA and AST concentrations and lower TCH concentration during the peripartum period, and high prepartum BCS and postpartum rectal temperature, could be used as biomarkers to predict the subsequent development of peri- and postpartum disorders.

The American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system has been widely used for sinonasal cancer. The sixth-edition staging system suggests a new classification for staging sinonasal cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of 6th edition of AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) staging system for predicting prognosis of sinonasal squamous cell cancer comparing with 5th edition. Sixty five sinonasal squamous cell cancer patients from 1981 through 2003 at SNUH were evaluated. Survival rates of different stages were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method to determine mean, median, and 5-year survival statistics. The overall 5 year survival rate was 54%. The cases that changed stages from stage III (5th) to Iva (6th) showed a worse survival rate than the cases remained as stage III, although statistically insignificant. The survival rates of stage Iva (6th) and Ivb (6th) showed a significant difference (p=0.01). The stage III group evaluated by 5th edition changed into stage III or stage IVA in 6th edition and they showed different 5-year survival rates, 58% in stage III (6th) and 34% in stage IVA (6th)(p=0.248), and different local recurrence rates, 33.3% in stage III (6th) and 46.7% in stage IVA (6th) which might have resulted in a worse survival rate. The new 6th edition AJCC staging system seems to be better to predict the prognosis of sinonasal squamous carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Classification ; Humans ; Joints* ; Nasal Cavity ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Parapharyngeal space tumors are extremely rare head and neck tumors. Therefore, there are just a few reports about them. The purpose of this study was to report our experiences of parapharyngeal space (PPS )tumors regarding clinicopathological features and management. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: This study included 51 patients with PPS tumors which were diagnosed from January 1990 through June 2004. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio was close to 1:1. The mean age was 47 years (6 mo -83 Y ). The most frequent presenting manifestation was asymptomatic neck mass. All patients were subjected to CT scan, while 31 patients underwent MRI in addition. Diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology of 28 cases matched with pathologic reports by 50%. Salivary gland neoplasms occupied the biggest parts (43.1%, 53.8%)of both benign and malignant PPS tumors. Thirteen patients (25.5%)had malignant lesions. Surgical excision was performed in 39 cases (76.5%). The transcervical (30.8%)and the transcervical-transparotid approaches (38.5%)were commonly performed surgical procedures. Overall postoperative morbidity rate was 23.1%. There were 3 recur-rences (42.8%)in malignant tumors and no recurrence in benign ones after surgical excision during the mean follow-up period of 35 months (13 -89 mo ). Close observation, sclerotherapy and radiotherapy were only applicable for a few selected benign lesions. CONCLUSION: Most benign PPS tumors could be removed surgically with low complication and recurrence rates. Optimal surgical approach based on transcervical approach allows safe removal of various types of PPS tumors.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Neck ; Neurilemmoma ; Paraganglioma ; Parotid Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; Sclerotherapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The effective management of subjective tinnitus should start with an accurate diagnosis based on an appropriate classification. Since there is no gold standard for managing subjective tinnitus, clinicians can select from various treatment options after considering the multifactorial etiology of tinnitus. This study surveyed otologists at university hospitals in Korea to identify the treatments used for subjective tinnitus and to obtain basic information on evidence-based medicine for treating tinnitus. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A five-major-item questionnaire on current tinnitus treatments was sent by email to otologists at 37 university hospitals in Korea; 30 (81.1%) replied. RESULTS: The mean incidence of tinnitus in otology outpatient clinics was 22.7% (range 10-40%). Common treatments were oral pharmacological therapy, regular counseling with tinnitus retraining or cognitive behavioral therapy and hearing aids. Tinnitus retraining therapy and hearing aids were considered the most effective when the visual analog scale scores were 7.0 and 6.6, respectively, and considered safe when the scores were 9.9 and 9.3. Ginkgo biloba and benzodiazepines were the most frequently prescribed drugs, although their reported effectiveness was questionable. Intra-tympanic steroid injection was not considered effective (3.8) or safe (6.3). Somatosensory-based treatments such as treating neck muscle or temporomandibular joint disorders were also used to relieve a subgroup of somatic tinnitus. CONCLUSION: Our results showed trends similar to those in other countries, yet we have not reached the level of evidence-based clinical practice due to the lack of reliable and effective treatment options. Further research on tinnitus-treatments is needed, particularly about randomized controlled studies with blinding.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Benzodiazepines ; Cognitive Therapy ; Counseling ; Electronic Mail ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Ginkgo biloba ; Hearing Aids ; Hospitals, University ; Incidence ; Korea ; Neck Muscles ; Otolaryngology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; Tinnitus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of repeated percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) based on the restenosis pattern in drug-eluting stent (DES) failure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From April 2003 to March 2006, all 67 patients (67 lesions) at our 3 centers who had DES in-stent restenosis (ISR) were enrolled. The patients were divided into 3 groups: group I had focal edge restenosis, group II had focal body restenosis, and group III had non-focal restenosis. All patients were treated with conventional PCI including plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA), cutting balloon angioplasty (CBA), and repeated DES implantation (Re-DES). Angiographic and clinical one year follow-up results for the 3 groups were evaluated. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were enrolled in group I, 36 in group II, and 15 in group III. Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics and the proportion of patients in each group receiving each type of treatment strategy were not significantly different among the groups. Within each group, a comparison of angiographic and clinical outcomes for each therapeutic modality revealed that restenosis rates were not statistically different. Although rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were not statistically different between groups I and II, in group III, MACE were 3-fold higher for the POBA (4/4, 100.0%) and CBA (4/4, 100.0%) subgroups than for Re-DES (1/3, 33.3%) (p=0.06), but the differences did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that treatment of DES ISR should be individualized according to restenosis pattern: any PCI strategy appears appropriate for focal ISR patterns, while Re-DES might be a better choice for non-focal ISR patterns.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Restenosis ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In Korea, few studies have examined primary cardiac tumors, which have a reported incidence of 0.0017~0.19% in autopsy series. This study surveyed the status of primary cardiac tumors over the past 7 years in one region. METHODS: A retrospective review examined all patients with primary cardiac tumors, except for confirmed thrombus, using hospital medical records from 2000 to 2006 at six community hospitals. Identified cases undergoing biopsy and surgery were selected for the study. RESULTS: The operative mortality was 7.7%. Of the 71 patients (26 males) with identified primary cardiac tumors, 65 (91.5%) tumors were benign and 6 (8.5%) were malignant. The benign tumors were myxoma (78.9%), rhabdomyoma (4.2%), fibroelastoma (2.8%), fibroma (1.4%), and leiomyoma (1.4%). Two of the myxomas were present at multiple locations. The malignant tumors included sarcomas (67%) and lymphomas (33%). Most of the tumors were located in the left atrium (76%). The majority of patients presented with chest pain and dyspnea. During follow-up for an average of 26.8+/-21.3 months, all but one patient with benign tumors was alive; one myxoma patient died perioperatively (1.5%). Four of the patients with malignant tumors (67%) died. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac myxomas and sarcomas were the most common primary benign and malignant tumors, respectively. Benign tumors had excellent postoperative survival rates, while malignant tumors had high mortality.
Autopsy ; Biopsy ; Chest Pain ; Dyspnea ; Fibroma ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Atria ; Heart Neoplasms ; Hospitals, Community ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Leiomyoma ; Lymphoma ; Medical Records ; Myxoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhabdomyoma ; Sarcoma ; Survival Rate ; Thrombosis