Pneumoparotid is a rare diagnosis to consider when faced with unexplained parotid swelling. It is caused by an excessive increase of intraoral pressure and reflux of air through the Stensen duct and its glandular branches. It is more likely to occur in persons who have regularly raised intraoral pressure, for example glass and balloon blowers and wind instrument players. It can also be self-induced by habitual tic. Herein, we report a rare case of pneumoparotid with initial presentation of painless swelling in left parotid region. It was caused by habitual cheek inflating and improved with conservative management.

Background: The use of helmet treatment for positional plagiocephaly has increased recently; however, its effect is unknown in Korea.Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of helmet therapy and identify its influencing factors. Methods: Ninety pediatric patients diagnosed with moderate to severe positional plagiocephaly received helmet therapy. Severity of moderate to severe positional plagiocephaly was defined as cranial vault asymmetry (CVA) >10 mm or CVA index (CVAI) >6%. Patients were categorized by age, severity, and daily helmet wear. Multiple regression analysis controlled for factors like sex and prematurity. Treatment success was assessed by comparing pre/post-helmet theray CVA and CVAI, considering normalization or decrease to mild plagiocephaly (CVA ≤10 mm or CVAI ≤6%). Results: A total of 90 participants were enrolled (mean age, 5.6±1.6 months; male, 53 [58.9%]). The mean helmet therapy duration was 6.4±2.7 months, while the mean daily wear time was 18.4±2.7 hours. Among the 90 patients, 66 (73.3%) had moderate disease and 24 (26.7%) had severe disease. The mean CVA and CVAI decreased by 6.3±2.7 mm and 4.3%±1.8% after versus before treatment (P<0.001). Treatment was successful in 76 infants (84.4%). The most effective changes in CVA and CVAI were noted in those who began treatment before 9 months of age (6.2±2.5 mm and 5.0%±1.9%, P<0.001), had high compliance (6.2±2.4 mm and 4.9%±1.9%, P<0.001), and had high severity (8.0±2.3 mm and 6.6%±1.7%, P<0.001). Conclusion Starting helmet treatment before 9 months and wearing it over 15 hours daily yielded better outcomes.

Background: The use of helmet treatment for positional plagiocephaly has increased recently; however, its effect is unknown in Korea.Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of helmet therapy and identify its influencing factors. Methods: Ninety pediatric patients diagnosed with moderate to severe positional plagiocephaly received helmet therapy. Severity of moderate to severe positional plagiocephaly was defined as cranial vault asymmetry (CVA) >10 mm or CVA index (CVAI) >6%. Patients were categorized by age, severity, and daily helmet wear. Multiple regression analysis controlled for factors like sex and prematurity. Treatment success was assessed by comparing pre/post-helmet theray CVA and CVAI, considering normalization or decrease to mild plagiocephaly (CVA ≤10 mm or CVAI ≤6%). Results: A total of 90 participants were enrolled (mean age, 5.6±1.6 months; male, 53 [58.9%]). The mean helmet therapy duration was 6.4±2.7 months, while the mean daily wear time was 18.4±2.7 hours. Among the 90 patients, 66 (73.3%) had moderate disease and 24 (26.7%) had severe disease. The mean CVA and CVAI decreased by 6.3±2.7 mm and 4.3%±1.8% after versus before treatment (P<0.001). Treatment was successful in 76 infants (84.4%). The most effective changes in CVA and CVAI were noted in those who began treatment before 9 months of age (6.2±2.5 mm and 5.0%±1.9%, P<0.001), had high compliance (6.2±2.4 mm and 4.9%±1.9%, P<0.001), and had high severity (8.0±2.3 mm and 6.6%±1.7%, P<0.001). Conclusion Starting helmet treatment before 9 months and wearing it over 15 hours daily yielded better outcomes.

Background: The use of helmet treatment for positional plagiocephaly has increased recently; however, its effect is unknown in Korea.Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of helmet therapy and identify its influencing factors. Methods: Ninety pediatric patients diagnosed with moderate to severe positional plagiocephaly received helmet therapy. Severity of moderate to severe positional plagiocephaly was defined as cranial vault asymmetry (CVA) >10 mm or CVA index (CVAI) >6%. Patients were categorized by age, severity, and daily helmet wear. Multiple regression analysis controlled for factors like sex and prematurity. Treatment success was assessed by comparing pre/post-helmet theray CVA and CVAI, considering normalization or decrease to mild plagiocephaly (CVA ≤10 mm or CVAI ≤6%). Results: A total of 90 participants were enrolled (mean age, 5.6±1.6 months; male, 53 [58.9%]). The mean helmet therapy duration was 6.4±2.7 months, while the mean daily wear time was 18.4±2.7 hours. Among the 90 patients, 66 (73.3%) had moderate disease and 24 (26.7%) had severe disease. The mean CVA and CVAI decreased by 6.3±2.7 mm and 4.3%±1.8% after versus before treatment (P<0.001). Treatment was successful in 76 infants (84.4%). The most effective changes in CVA and CVAI were noted in those who began treatment before 9 months of age (6.2±2.5 mm and 5.0%±1.9%, P<0.001), had high compliance (6.2±2.4 mm and 4.9%±1.9%, P<0.001), and had high severity (8.0±2.3 mm and 6.6%±1.7%, P<0.001). Conclusion Starting helmet treatment before 9 months and wearing it over 15 hours daily yielded better outcomes.

Background: The use of helmet treatment for positional plagiocephaly has increased recently; however, its effect is unknown in Korea.Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of helmet therapy and identify its influencing factors. Methods: Ninety pediatric patients diagnosed with moderate to severe positional plagiocephaly received helmet therapy. Severity of moderate to severe positional plagiocephaly was defined as cranial vault asymmetry (CVA) >10 mm or CVA index (CVAI) >6%. Patients were categorized by age, severity, and daily helmet wear. Multiple regression analysis controlled for factors like sex and prematurity. Treatment success was assessed by comparing pre/post-helmet theray CVA and CVAI, considering normalization or decrease to mild plagiocephaly (CVA ≤10 mm or CVAI ≤6%). Results: A total of 90 participants were enrolled (mean age, 5.6±1.6 months; male, 53 [58.9%]). The mean helmet therapy duration was 6.4±2.7 months, while the mean daily wear time was 18.4±2.7 hours. Among the 90 patients, 66 (73.3%) had moderate disease and 24 (26.7%) had severe disease. The mean CVA and CVAI decreased by 6.3±2.7 mm and 4.3%±1.8% after versus before treatment (P<0.001). Treatment was successful in 76 infants (84.4%). The most effective changes in CVA and CVAI were noted in those who began treatment before 9 months of age (6.2±2.5 mm and 5.0%±1.9%, P<0.001), had high compliance (6.2±2.4 mm and 4.9%±1.9%, P<0.001), and had high severity (8.0±2.3 mm and 6.6%±1.7%, P<0.001). Conclusion Starting helmet treatment before 9 months and wearing it over 15 hours daily yielded better outcomes.

PURPOSE: Angiosarcoma is a tumor of mesenchymal origin with an extremely high rate of metastasis and invasiveness. This tumor is notorious for its very poor prognosis, although surgical excision followed by radiation therapy is considered to be effective by many. The authors experienced three angiosarcoma patients with their tumors removed and wounds covered with split-thickness skin grafts and/or latissimus dorsi free flaps. METHODS: Three patients were admitted to our hospital showed plaques of different morphology. Based on their medical records, these patients were classified by sex, age, type of reconstruction, recurrence, and further treatment after surgical removal. RESULTS: All patients were male, with a mean age of 72 years (range, 66 to 77 years). Split-thickness skin grafts with latissimus dorsi free flaps were performed on two cases, and of these two cases, cervical lymph node biopsy was done in one case, and radical neck dissection was done in the other. In all cases, radiation therapy was done within two weeks of tumor removal. Distant metastasis occurred without local recurrence in two of the cases. Lung was the first organ affected by metastasis. In the remaining case, the tumor recurred locally 6 times, and additional excision was necessary. All patients died due to local recurrence and lung metastasis. CONCLUSION: Irregular margins and high recurrence and metastasis rates cause a poor prognosis in large angiosarcoma of the scalp. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy should be strongly considered in large angiosarcomas.
Biopsy ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Medical Records ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Scalp ; Skin ; Transplants

Abdominoplasty may be applied to achieve aesthetic outcome and it also can be combined with other surgeries. In addition, liposuction has been offered to patients to improve contour. Liposuction combined with abdominoplasty gives us the advantage of higher patient satisfaction, better aesthetic outcome, and one-staged surgery. The authors performed a retrospective study to evaluate the outcomes. A total of 6 patients who underwent lipoabdominoplasty were included. The patients were all female and the mean age of the patients was 50.5 years old(age range, 32 to 58 years). This study surveyed lipoabdominoplasty based on the purpose of operation, type of suture, and application of quilting suture. Complication rates, patient satisfaction, and postoperative contour of the abdomen were questioned. A mild abdominal complication occurred in one patient, flap bullae, but this was healed within a week and overall flap survival was excellent with good satisfactory outcome. It appears that complication rates of simple lipoabdominoplasty group is low(1/6), and only minor complication occurs. Preservation of perforators during liposuction accounts for improved flap survival. In addition, abdominoplasty may be combined with other abdominal surgeries since other abdominal surgeries usually involve the lower abdomen, which will eventually be cut away curing the abdominoplasty stage.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Wall ; Abdominoplasty ; Adipose Tissue ; Blister ; Female ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Lipectomy ; Nitro Compounds ; Patient Satisfaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgery, Plastic ; Sutures

BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis is a chronic progressive autosomal recessive disorder caused by the CFTR gene mutations. It is quite common in Caucasians, but very rare in Asians. Sweat chloride test is known to be a screening test for the cystic fibrosis due to the fact that electrolyte levels in sweat are elevated in patients. In this study, sweat chloride levels in Korean population were measured and analyzed by using standardized pilocarpine iontophoresis sweat chloride test. METHODS: The sweat chloride test was performed in 47 patients referred to Yondong Severance Hospital from August, 2001 to April, 2007 and 41 healthy volunteers. The sweat chloride tests were conducted according to the CLSI C34-A2 guideline using pilocarpine iontophoresis method, and the chloride concentrations in sweat were measured by mercurimetric titration. RESULTS: Four patients showed sweat chloride concentrations higher than 60 mmol/L. Reference interval was calculated as 1.4-44.5 mmol/L by analysis of the results of healthy volunteers (n=41). Four patients who exhibited high sweat chloride levels, had characteristic clinical features of cystic fibrosis and their diagnoses were confirmed either by repeated sweat chloride test or genetic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized sweat chloride test can be utilized as a useful diagnostic tool for cystic fibrosis in Koreans. In cases of sweat chloride levels higher than 40 mmol/L, the test should be repeated for the possible diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. All the confirmed Korean cases of cystic fibrosis showed sweat chloride level above 60 mmol/L.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chlorides/*analysis/*standards ; Cystic Fibrosis/*diagnosis/genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Iontophoresis/methods ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pilocarpine/chemistry ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sweat/chemistry/*secretion

We evaluated the performance of a recently developed immunoassay, Elecsys vitamin D total II assay (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Germany). Precision, linearity, and comparison studies were performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Control materials, linearity materials, and patient samples were used for the evaluation. For the correlation study, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used as the comparative method. Total coefficients of variations of the analyte were between 5.1% and 9.6%. The results of linearity evaluation were also acceptable for the range tested. Correlations with comparative methods were good; however, the mean values of the Elecsys vitamin D assay were higher than those of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The overall analytical performance of the Elecsys vitamin D total II assay is acceptable for the immunology analyzer. Therefore, the Elecsys vitamin D total II assay is expected to be widely used.
Allergy and Immunology ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Mass Spectrometry ; Methods ; Statistics as Topic ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*