Adult-onset egg allergy is rare compared to child-onset egg allergy, and the component-resolved diagnosis test is effective in evaluating food allergy. We herein report a 24-year-old woman with late-onset egg-yolk allergy diagnosed as bird-egg syndrome. The prolonged exposure to pet parrots' dander or dropping through the respiratory system caused sensitization to the Gal d 5 component and resulted in a cross-reaction to egg yolk. Since the patient was suspected of the syndrome by her history, the skin prick test, ISAC ImmunoCAP, and serum ImmunoCAP test were performed. By confirming Gal d 5 component by ISAC ImmunoCAP, the patient was diagnosed with the syndrome. In patients with newly adult-onset food allergy, the clinician must identify the environmental conditions which can cause cross-sensitization and perform the causative component test.

Purpose: To determine whether the clinical features of intermittent exotropia (IXT) needing muscle surgery were different in the ophthalmologist-detected and non-specialist-detected groups (including parents). Methods: Medical records of 218 children (mean age: 5.9 ± 1.4 years) with IXT of ≥ 20 prism diopters (PD) were reviewed retrospectively. The angles of deviation were measured using the prism and alternate cover test and assessed by two ophthalmologists using photographs with a translucent occluder (photographic angle). The IXT subtype, fusional control, stereopsis, suppression, and spherical equivalent (SE) were compared between the ophthalmologist-detected and non-specialist-detected groups. Results: Mean 25.8 ± 6.8 PD of distant angle of IXT was first detected by the ophthalmologist in 41 patients (18.8%) and the non-specialists in 177 patients (81.2%). The deviated eye was more myopic in the ophthalmologist-detected than non-specialist- detected group (-0.77 ± 1.59 diopters [D] vs. -0.19 ± 1.48 D, p = 0.03). There were no other differences between the two groups. A comparison of 39 age- and non-dominant eye SE-matched pairs demonstrated that the measured angles for distant and near fixation were smaller in the ophthalmologist-detected than non-specialist-detected group (24.0 ± 6.8 PD vs. 28.5 ± 6.4 PD and 26.9 ± 6.6 PD vs. 31.0 ± 6.4 PD, respectively, p < 0.01), while the remaining characteristics, including the photographic angle, were similar. Conclusions In cases with small angles of deviation or myopia, IXT with angles requiring surgical correction were commonly first detected by ophthalmologists during examinations.

Purpose: We compared clinical outcomes including recurrence rate between amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) and conjunctival autograft using fibrin glue and minimal conjunctival sutures for pterygium surgery. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 217 eyes of 198 patients with pterygia who underwent surgery from May 2016 to December 2019. Pterygium excision was performed with conjunctival autograft or AMT, using fibrin glue with both. Recurrence rates and complications were evaluated between the two groups. Results: Postoperative recurrences were noted in one of 185 eyes (0.5%) in the conjunctival autograft group, and in six of 32 eyes (18.8%) in the AMT group. The recurrence rate was significantly lower in the conjunctival autograft group (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that conjunctival autograft was associated with a significantly lower risk of pterygium recurrence compared to AMT (odds ratio, 0.023; 95% confidence interval, 0.003-0.206; p = 0.001). No ocular complication was noted in both groups during follow-up. Conclusions Pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft using fibrin glue was more effective in preventing recurrence compared to AMT.

Purpose: We compared clinical outcomes including recurrence rate between amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) and conjunctival autograft using fibrin glue and minimal conjunctival sutures for pterygium surgery. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 217 eyes of 198 patients with pterygia who underwent surgery from May 2016 to December 2019. Pterygium excision was performed with conjunctival autograft or AMT, using fibrin glue with both. Recurrence rates and complications were evaluated between the two groups. Results: Postoperative recurrences were noted in one of 185 eyes (0.5%) in the conjunctival autograft group, and in six of 32 eyes (18.8%) in the AMT group. The recurrence rate was significantly lower in the conjunctival autograft group (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that conjunctival autograft was associated with a significantly lower risk of pterygium recurrence compared to AMT (odds ratio, 0.023; 95% confidence interval, 0.003-0.206; p = 0.001). No ocular complication was noted in both groups during follow-up. Conclusions Pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft using fibrin glue was more effective in preventing recurrence compared to AMT.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the mediating effects of cancer-related dysfunctional beliefs regarding sleep and intolerance of uncertainty on the effect of depression, insomnia, and anxiety on fear of progression (FoP). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with cancer who visited the Sleep Clinic for cancer patients in Asan Medical Center for the first time between December 2021 and March 2022. Data collected included age, sex, types of cancer, staging, current treatment modalities, and history of surgical procedures. In addition, psychological symptoms were rated using the Insomnia Severity Scale (ISI), Patient Health Questionnaire–9 items (PHQ-9), State subcategory of the State and Trait of Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), Short form of Fear of Progression Questionnaire, Cancer-related Dysfunctional Beliefs about Sleep scale (C-DBS), single item of pain and fatigue, Connor Davidson Resilience Scale 2-item (CD-RISC2), and Intolerance of Uncertainty–12 (IUS-12). The predictive variables for FoP were determined by linear regression analysis. Results: The FoP was significantly correlated with age (r=-0.289), ISI (r=0.178), PHQ-9 (r=0.703), STAI-S (r=0.377), fatigue (r=0.452), CD-RISC2 (r=-0.270), IUS-12 (r=0.585), and C-DBS (r=0.427, all p<0.01). A mediation analysis showed that intolerance of uncertainty and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep mediated the relationship of FoP with insomnia, depression, or anxiety. Conclusion Psychological support for intolerance of uncertainty and cancer-related dysfunctional beliefs about sleep in patients with cancer may be beneficial to reduce their FoP.

Background and Objectives: Real-world trends in the utility and type of gatekeeping studies in invasive coronary angiography (ICA) requires further investigation. Methods: We identified outpatients who underwent noninvasive cardiac tests or directly ICA for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) from the nationwide Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service-National Patient Sample database between 2012 and 2018. Results: Among 71,401 patients, the percentage of patients who were evaluated for suspected CAD was 34.7% for treadmill test (TMT), 4.2% for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), 24.2% for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), 1.6% for multiple gatekeepers, and 32.3% for directly ICA without noninvasive studies. The proportion of CCTA as a gatekeeper showed linear increase, (18.6% in 2012 and 28.8% in 2018; p<0.001), while those of TMT, SPECT, and direct ICA have decreased (p<0.001, p=0.03, and p<0.001, respectively). The overall incidence of downstream ICA after gatekeeper was 13.8% (6,662/48,346), and SPECT showed higher ICA rate in pairwise comparison with TMT and CCTA (p<0.001). Patients who performed gatekeepers before ICA showed higher rate of subsequent PCI (34.7% vs. 32.3%; p<0.001) and CABG (3.5% vs. 1.0%; p<0.001), compared to those who directly underwent ICA, and CCTA was associated with higher revascularization rate after ICA in pairwise comparison with TMT and SPECT (p<0.001). Conclusions Nationwide database demonstrated that CCTA is utilized increasingly as a gatekeeper for ICA and is associated with high revascularization rate after ICA in outpatients with suspected CAD.

Purpose: The survey was conducted on Korean men to examine information acquisition channel for prostate cancer high risk group as part of the “Blue Ribbon Campaign” of the Korean Urological Oncology Society. Materials and Methods: An online survey of 500 men aged 50 years old or older was completed to query investigation of the status of prostate cancer awareness and information acquisition from February 4 to February 9, 2021. Results: Most men in their 50s and older are well aware that prostate cancer can also occur in young men in their 40s, so the rate of misunderstanding of the timing of prostate cancer screening after their 60s is very low. Two-thirds of all respondents (67.2%) were also confirmed that prostate cancer had no initial symptoms and was not included in the national cancer screening. Seventy-five percent of people look up information on their own in case of suspected prostate cancer, and 51.6% seek out knowledge on their own to prevent prostate cancer. Of the respondents, 27.4% of men contacted prostate cancer-related information within the past year, and the percentage of people contacted through ‘Internet/Phone,’ ‘People Around’ and ‘Television’ was high. The most trusted channel among prostate cancer information channels was ‘medical professionals,’ but the experience rate was not high, and the channel with high experience rate and reliability was shown as ‘television.’ Conclusions Much effort is still needed to understand the information acquisition behavior of Korean men and to improve awareness of early screening for prostate cancer.

Purpose: The survey was conducted on Korean men to examine information acquisition channel for prostate cancer high risk group as part of the “Blue Ribbon Campaign” of the Korean Urological Oncology Society. Materials and Methods: An online survey of 500 men aged 50 years old or older was completed to query investigation of the status of prostate cancer awareness and information acquisition from February 4 to February 9, 2021. Results: Most men in their 50s and older are well aware that prostate cancer can also occur in young men in their 40s, so the rate of misunderstanding of the timing of prostate cancer screening after their 60s is very low. Two-thirds of all respondents (67.2%) were also confirmed that prostate cancer had no initial symptoms and was not included in the national cancer screening. Seventy-five percent of people look up information on their own in case of suspected prostate cancer, and 51.6% seek out knowledge on their own to prevent prostate cancer. Of the respondents, 27.4% of men contacted prostate cancer-related information within the past year, and the percentage of people contacted through ‘Internet/Phone,’ ‘People Around’ and ‘Television’ was high. The most trusted channel among prostate cancer information channels was ‘medical professionals,’ but the experience rate was not high, and the channel with high experience rate and reliability was shown as ‘television.’ Conclusions Much effort is still needed to understand the information acquisition behavior of Korean men and to improve awareness of early screening for prostate cancer.

Purpose: We aimed to collect opinions on the diagnostic experiences and quality of life profiles for men with prostate cancer in Korea as part of the “Blue Ribbon Campaign” of the Korean Urological Oncology Society. Materials and Methods: Korean Urological Oncology Society conducted an online survey of 212 prostate cancer patients belonging to the Prostate Cancer Patient Association. A survey on diagnostic experience and quality of life based on Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite 26 Short Form were conducted. Results: About half of all respondents (50.5%) answered, “I experienced symptoms of urine leakage more than once a week,” during the last four weeks, 85% of the respondents said their sexual function level was “weak,” and 64.2% said, “very weak.” When asked about the level of erectile dysfunction, 58 percent of the respondents answered, “I never had an erection when I wanted one.” Of the respondents, 47.1% of men said that clinical stage at initial presentation was prostate cancer stage 3–4 and 99.1% of the respondents hoped that the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test would be included in the national cancer screening. Conclusions Through this survey of patients, we were able to confirm the difficulties of the low quality of life currently experienced by prostate cancer patients and what they want to do with prostate cancer treatment. All patients are eager to include a PSA test in the national cancer screening so that prostate cancer can be detected early and patients can receive proper treatment at an appropriate time.

BACKGROUND: It is very important to accurately enumerate CD34-positive (CD34+) cells for successful hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We evaluated the ability of the newly developed image based-immunofluorescence cell counter ADAMII (NanoEntek, Seoul, Korea) to enumerate CD34+ cells, which was improved through simultaneous CD45 analysis. METHODS: We enumerated CD34+ cells with ADAMII using 19 peripheral blood (PB) and 91 leukapheresis samples from HSCT donors. Analytical performance, including precision and linearity, was analyzed, and sample stability during storage was evaluated. Viable CD34+ cell count (vCD34) and viable CD45+ cell count (vCD45) and the percentage of viable CD34+ cells among viable CD45+ cells (CD34/CD45) as measured by ADAMII were compared with the corresponding values from two flow cytometry assays, using regression analysis. RESULTS: ADAMII demonstrated acceptable precision, as CV values of vCD34 from six samples with different counts were all < 10% (range: 3.49–9.51%). CV values of the vCD45 and CD34/45 ranged from 4.03% to 9.67% and from 2.48% to 10.07%, respectively. The linearity of vCD34 showed an excellent R 2 value (0.99) when analyzed using the intended count and flow cytometry data. The ADAMII and two flow cytometry-based assays generated very similar data for the PB and leukapheresis samples. CONCLUSIONS: ADAMII demonstrated excellent performance for use as a routine clinical assay in terms of CD34+ cell enumeration from PB and leukapheresis samples. Moreover, it could be used as a point-of-care-test for determining mobilization time and predicting an adequate apheresis stem cell product.
Blood Component Removal ; Cell Count ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescence ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukapheresis ; Seoul ; Stem Cells ; Tissue Donors