Hemorrhagic radiation proctitis is infrequently seen in patients receiving pelvic irradiation. The treatment of hemorrhagic ralation proctitis is often difficult. Many patients need reyeated hospitalizations and blood transfusions. Occasionally patiets will develop severe or recurrent rectal bleeding. In case of massive bleeding requiring excessive transfusion, colonic diversion by construction of a colostomy or excision of the diseased segment may be inevitable. However, surgical procedures in these patients are associated with a high mortality and morbidity. Moreover, medical therapy is usually ineffective. Recently formalin therapy has been introduced as a simple and effective treatment for hemorrhagic radiation proctitis. We experienced a 69 year-old woman patient who developed severe homorrhagic proctitis 1 year after radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix. She had not improved by conservative management and required blood tranafusions and repetitive hospitalizations. After local application of a 4% formalin solution in the diseased rectum under caudal anesthesia, the bleeding immediately stopped and the patient was discharged from the hospital, and no recurrence has been observed until now.
Aged ; Anesthesia, Caudal ; Blood Transfusion ; Cervix Uteri ; Colon ; Colostomy ; Female ; Formaldehyde* ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mortality ; Proctitis* ; Radiotherapy ; Rectum ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Amputation is commonly performed for toe necrosis secondary to peripheral vascular diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. When amputating a necrotic toe, preservation of the bony structure is important for preventing the collapse of adjacent digits into the amputated space. However, in the popular terminal Syme's amputation technique, partial amputation of the distal phalanx could cause increased tension on the wound margin. Herein, we introduce a new way to resect sufficient bony structure while maintaining the normal length, based on a morphological analysis of the toes. METHODS: Unlike the pulp of the finger in the distal phalanx, the toe has abundant teardrop-shaped pulp tissue. The ratio of the vertical length to the longitudinal length in the distal phalanx was compared between the toes and fingers. Amputation was performed at the proximal interphalangeal joint level. Then, a mobilizable pulp flap was rotated 90° cephalad to replace the distal soft tissue defect. This modified toe fillet flap was performed in 5 patients. RESULTS: The toe pulp was found to have a vertically oriented morphology compared to that of the fingers, enabling length preservation through cephalad rotation. All defects were successfully covered without marginal ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: While conventional toe fillet flap coverage focuses on the principle of length preservation as the first priority, our modified method takes both wound healing and length into account. The fattiest part of the pulp is advanced to the toe tip, providing a cushioning effect and enough length to substitute for phalangeal bone loss. Our modified method led to satisfactory functional and aesthetic outcomes.
Amputation ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Foot ; Fingers ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Joints ; Methods ; Necrosis ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; Surgical Flaps ; Toes ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries

Lacrimal fistula (LF) is a rare abnormality of the lacrimal system. Patients with LF are usually asymptomatic, and thus, treatment is unnecessary. During surgery on a patient with LF, the fistula may fall into the range of dissection. In such cases, fistula management becomes important. A 19-year-old woman visited our department to receive incisional blepharoplasty and medial epicanthoplasty, and a preoperative physical examination revealed LF. During surgery, we found the fistula tract to be within the dissection field, and thus, the LF was cut and cauterized. One year after the surgery, inflammation and hypertrophy of the remnant lacrimal duct occurred. The wound was stabilized by creating an opening that reconnected the stump and the overlying skin. Through this case, we hope to establish the appropriate strategy for managing LF detected during medial epicanthoplasty. As seen in our case, cauterization should be avoided because of the high recurrence rate of LF. Instead, as definitive treatment, fistulectomy should be performed, or the fistula should be moved along with the skin flap when a small skin flap is transferred.
Blepharoplasty ; Cautery ; Female ; Fistula* ; Hope ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Inflammation ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Wounds and Injuries ; Young Adult

Lacrimal fistula (LF) is a rare abnormality of the lacrimal system. Patients with LF are usually asymptomatic, and thus, treatment is unnecessary. During surgery on a patient with LF, the fistula may fall into the range of dissection. In such cases, fistula management becomes important. A 19-year-old woman visited our department to receive incisional blepharoplasty and medial epicanthoplasty, and a preoperative physical examination revealed LF. During surgery, we found the fistula tract to be within the dissection field, and thus, the LF was cut and cauterized. One year after the surgery, inflammation and hypertrophy of the remnant lacrimal duct occurred. The wound was stabilized by creating an opening that reconnected the stump and the overlying skin. Through this case, we hope to establish the appropriate strategy for managing LF detected during medial epicanthoplasty. As seen in our case, cauterization should be avoided because of the high recurrence rate of LF. Instead, as definitive treatment, fistulectomy should be performed, or the fistula should be moved along with the skin flap when a small skin flap is transferred.
Blepharoplasty ; Cautery ; Female ; Fistula* ; Hope ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Inflammation ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Wounds and Injuries ; Young Adult

Pure-tone audiometry, using an audiometer, is the fundamental hearing test for diagnosing hearing loss. The requirements of the devices and the detailed process for calibrating the related equipment are described in international standards. However, traceable calibration and uncertainty evaluation processes are not widely accepted or applied to the qualification and maintenance of audiometric equipment. Here, we briefly review standard measurement systems for audiometric devices and introduce their calibration procedures. The uncertainty of each calibration process was investigated, and its impact on hearing test results was considered. Our findings show that the traceability of each procedure can be secured, satisfying the uncertainty requirement and being sufficiently smaller than the permissible deviation from the audiometer requirement. To guarantee the objectivity and reliability of hearing tests and maintain low uncertainty, close cooperation and mutual understanding between the metrology field and the medical community are necessary.

This study explores the internal standards for hearing tests and benefits of implementing international standard protocols, including the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and discusses how ISO and IEC standards provide a framework for designing, calibrating, assessing hearing test instruments and methods, and exchanging and comparing data globally. ISO and IEC standards for hearing tests improve accuracy, reliability, and consistency of test results by applying standardized methods and environments. Moreover, they promote international harmonization and data interoperability, enabling information exchange and research collaboration. Those standards for hearing tests are beneficial but have challenges and limitations, such as variation in equipment and calibration, lag in updating standards, variation in implementation and compliance, and lack of coverage of clinical aspects, cultural diversity, and linguistic diversity. These affect the quality and interpretation of test results. Adapting ISO or IEC standards locally would improve their applicability and acceptability, while balancing customization and compatibility with global standards.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colon transit time is a useful method for assessing colonic motor function and classifying the type of idiopathic chronic constipation. Among various methods, a radio-opaque marker study is a simple, reproducible and economical method. The commonly used marker, Sitzmarks(R)(Konsyl Pharmaceuticals Inc. Texas) had limitations in its use due to expensiveness and difficulty in importation. We thought that a new domestic marker comparable to Sitzmarks(R) was necessary and we developed Kolomark (Korean colon marker)(TM). The radio-opaqueness of Kolomark(TM) was compared to that of Sitzmarks(R). METHODS: In two 1000ml of beakers, 350ml of rice-gruel, several chicken-bones and ten rings of Sitzmarks(R) and Kolomark(TM) were mixed separately. Then, X-ray films of the two beakers were taken. The digital image file was analyzed by image(R), a medical image processing program, and the value of pixels were obtained. These were repeated five times. RESULTS: The mean value of pixel of Kolomark(TM) was much lower than that of Sitzmarks(R). The difference between background or beaker and Kolomark(TM) was much greater than that of Sitzmarks. CONCLUSION: Kolomark(TM), a Korean colon marker which is more radio-opaque and cheaper than Sitzmarks(R) is developed and further study is needed to prove its clinical usefulness.
Colon* ; Constipation ; X-Ray Film

BACKGROUND: Among various methods for measuring colon transit time, radio-opaque marker study is simple, reproducible and economical method. The commonly used marker, Sitzmarks (Konsyl Pharmaceuticals Inc. Texas) had limitation in its use due to expensiveness and difficulty in importation. We thought that the new domestic marker comparable to Sitzmarks is necessary and made a Kolomark (Korean colon marker)TM. The comparison of radio-opaqueness and the measurement of colon transit times by two markers were done. METHODS: In two 1000 ml beakers, 350 ml of rice-gruel, several chicken-bones and ten rings of Sitzmarks and KolomarkTM were mixed separately. Then, X-ray films of the two beakers were taken. The digital image file was analyzed by Image and the value of pixels were obtained. These were repeated five times. Colon transit times were measured in 60 healthy persons stratified by age, 30 by Sitzmarks and 30 by KolomarkTM. RESULTS: The mean value of pixel of KolomarkTM was much lower than that of Sitzmarks. The difference between background or beaker and KolomarkTM was much greater than that of Sitzmarks . There was no significant difference between colon transit time studied by Sitzmarks and KolomarkTM. CONCLUSION: KolomarkTM, a more radio-opaque and cheaper marker than Sitzmarks will be applied usefully for measuring colon transit time.
Colon* ; Humans ; X-Ray Film

Background/Aims: Posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is a major complication that increases mortality in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance elastography-assessed liver stiffness (MRE-LS) for the prediction of PHLF and to develop an MRE-LS-based risk prediction model. Methods: A total of 160 hepatocellular carcinoma patients who underwent surgical resection with available preoperative MRE-LS data were enrolled. Clinical and laboratory parameters were collected from medical records. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors for PHLF and develop a risk prediction model. Results: PHLF was present in 24 patients (15%). In the multivariate logistic analysis, high MRE-LS (kPa; odds ratio [OR] 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12 to 1.98, p=0.006), low serum albumin (≤3.8 g/dL; OR 15.89, 95% CI 2.41 to 104.82, p=0.004), major hepatic resection (OR 4.16, 95% CI 1.40 to 12.38, p=0.014), higher albumin-bilirubin score (>–0.55; OR 3.72, 95% CI 1.15 to 12.04, p=0.028), and higher serum α-fetoprotein (>100 ng/mL; OR 3.53, 95% CI 1.20 to 10.40, p=0.022) were identified as independent risk factors for PHLF. A risk prediction model for PHLF was established using the multivariate logistic regression equation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the risk prediction model was 0.877 for predicting PHLF and 0.923 for predicting grade B and C PHLF. In leave-one-out cross-validation, the risk model showed good performance, with AUCs of 0.807 for all-grade PHLF and 0. 871 for grade B and C PHLF. Conclusions Our novel MRE-LS-based risk model had excellent performance in predicting PHLF, especially grade B and C PHLF.

Hearing thresholds provide essential information and references about the human auditory system. This study aimed to identify changing trends in distributions of hearing threshold levels across ages by comparing the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 7029 and newly available data after publishing ISO 7029. To compare ISO 7029 and newly available hearing threshold data after publishing ISO 7029, four country-specific datasets that presented average hearing threshold levels under conditions similar to ISO 7029 were utilized. For frequencies between 125 Hz and 8,000 Hz, the deviations of hearing threshold values by ages from the hearing threshold of the youngest age group for each data point were utilized. For frequencies from 9,000 Hz to 12,500 Hz, the median threshold information was utilized. Hearing threshold data reported after publishing ISO 7029 from the four countries were mostly similar to the ISO 7029 data but tended to deviate in some age groups and sexes. As national hearing threshold trends change, the following ISO 7029 revision suggests the need to integrate hearing threshold data from different countries.