BACKGROUND: Intracoronary stent implantation is a promising modality for establishing the blood flow of complex coronary arterial stenosis. However, previous studies have demonstrated that the angiographically visible thrombus is a high risk factor for possibility of stent thrombosis. So many investigators avoided stent implantation traditionally for thrombus containing lesion because of the potency of thrombogenecity of stent. But recently, advanced rapidly growing technique for stenting and powerful antithrombotic regimens make stent thrombosis rare. Stent implantantion has already been showed a acceptable method for bailout procedure of thrombotic occlusion in patients with angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction and also effective in intimal dissection, suboptimal results and arterial recoil. Accordingly, we investigated the effectiveness of stent implantation in the presence of intracoronary thrombus. METHODS: Eighteen patients(AMI 14, Unstable angina 4) underwent PTCA & stent implantation on culprit arterial lesion in all successfully. The stent group was comprised of Palmatz-Schatz stent 10, Cordis 2, Cook 5 and Jo-Med stent 1. Stent implanted to the lesion of remained thrombus visualization on coronary angiography after PTCA. RESULTS: No major complications were developed during hospitalization in all 18 patients. In all patients no stent thrombosis have occurred within 2 weeks after stent implantation. But one patients have showed intracoronary stent thrombus persistently, so we used intracoronary urokinase infusion for 36 hours but there was no visible thrombus after modified anticoagulation and antithrombotic regimen CONCLUSIONS: We harvested good preliminary results of intracoronary stent implantation in the setting of thrombus containing lesion.
Angina, Unstable ; Angioplasty ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Research Personnel ; Risk Factors ; Stents* ; Thrombosis* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

Background: s/Aims: The treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has significantly evolved over the past decade. We aimed to analyze trends in treatment patterns for HCC using a nationwide claims database from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study analyzed 171,002 newly diagnosed HCC patients between 2008 and 2022. Etiologies and treatment modalities were categorized based on the ICD-10 codes and insurance data. Results: The annual incidence decreased from 11,814 in 2008 to 10,443 in 2022. However, patients aged ≥70 increased noticeably, with those aged ≥80 rising from 3.8% in 2008 to 13.1% in 2022. From 2008 to 2022, the predominant cause of hepatitis B virus decreased from 68.9% to 59.7%, whereas nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increased from 8.9% to 15.8%. The initial treatment trends shifted: surgical resection and systemic therapy increased from 12.2% to 21.3% and from 0.2% to 9.6%, whereas transarterial therapy decreased from 49.9% to 36.6%. Best supportive care decreased from 31.7% to 21.3%. In the subgroup analysis, laparoscopic resection rate increased from 10.6% to 60.6% among the surgical resections. Sorafenib initially accounted for 100%, lenvatinib peaked at 36.5% in 2021, and atezolizumab-bevacizumab became the most widely used (63.1%) by 2022 among the systemic therapies. Conclusions This study demonstrates the temporal changes in the treatment patterns of Korean HCC patients. Surgical resection, particularly laparoscopic liver resection, and systemic therapy has increased significantly. These changes may have been influenced by reimbursement policies and advances in clinical research.

Background: s/Aims: The treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has significantly evolved over the past decade. We aimed to analyze trends in treatment patterns for HCC using a nationwide claims database from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study analyzed 171,002 newly diagnosed HCC patients between 2008 and 2022. Etiologies and treatment modalities were categorized based on the ICD-10 codes and insurance data. Results: The annual incidence decreased from 11,814 in 2008 to 10,443 in 2022. However, patients aged ≥70 increased noticeably, with those aged ≥80 rising from 3.8% in 2008 to 13.1% in 2022. From 2008 to 2022, the predominant cause of hepatitis B virus decreased from 68.9% to 59.7%, whereas nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increased from 8.9% to 15.8%. The initial treatment trends shifted: surgical resection and systemic therapy increased from 12.2% to 21.3% and from 0.2% to 9.6%, whereas transarterial therapy decreased from 49.9% to 36.6%. Best supportive care decreased from 31.7% to 21.3%. In the subgroup analysis, laparoscopic resection rate increased from 10.6% to 60.6% among the surgical resections. Sorafenib initially accounted for 100%, lenvatinib peaked at 36.5% in 2021, and atezolizumab-bevacizumab became the most widely used (63.1%) by 2022 among the systemic therapies. Conclusions This study demonstrates the temporal changes in the treatment patterns of Korean HCC patients. Surgical resection, particularly laparoscopic liver resection, and systemic therapy has increased significantly. These changes may have been influenced by reimbursement policies and advances in clinical research.

Background: s/Aims: The treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has significantly evolved over the past decade. We aimed to analyze trends in treatment patterns for HCC using a nationwide claims database from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study analyzed 171,002 newly diagnosed HCC patients between 2008 and 2022. Etiologies and treatment modalities were categorized based on the ICD-10 codes and insurance data. Results: The annual incidence decreased from 11,814 in 2008 to 10,443 in 2022. However, patients aged ≥70 increased noticeably, with those aged ≥80 rising from 3.8% in 2008 to 13.1% in 2022. From 2008 to 2022, the predominant cause of hepatitis B virus decreased from 68.9% to 59.7%, whereas nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increased from 8.9% to 15.8%. The initial treatment trends shifted: surgical resection and systemic therapy increased from 12.2% to 21.3% and from 0.2% to 9.6%, whereas transarterial therapy decreased from 49.9% to 36.6%. Best supportive care decreased from 31.7% to 21.3%. In the subgroup analysis, laparoscopic resection rate increased from 10.6% to 60.6% among the surgical resections. Sorafenib initially accounted for 100%, lenvatinib peaked at 36.5% in 2021, and atezolizumab-bevacizumab became the most widely used (63.1%) by 2022 among the systemic therapies. Conclusions This study demonstrates the temporal changes in the treatment patterns of Korean HCC patients. Surgical resection, particularly laparoscopic liver resection, and systemic therapy has increased significantly. These changes may have been influenced by reimbursement policies and advances in clinical research.

Background: s/Aims: The treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has significantly evolved over the past decade. We aimed to analyze trends in treatment patterns for HCC using a nationwide claims database from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study analyzed 171,002 newly diagnosed HCC patients between 2008 and 2022. Etiologies and treatment modalities were categorized based on the ICD-10 codes and insurance data. Results: The annual incidence decreased from 11,814 in 2008 to 10,443 in 2022. However, patients aged ≥70 increased noticeably, with those aged ≥80 rising from 3.8% in 2008 to 13.1% in 2022. From 2008 to 2022, the predominant cause of hepatitis B virus decreased from 68.9% to 59.7%, whereas nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increased from 8.9% to 15.8%. The initial treatment trends shifted: surgical resection and systemic therapy increased from 12.2% to 21.3% and from 0.2% to 9.6%, whereas transarterial therapy decreased from 49.9% to 36.6%. Best supportive care decreased from 31.7% to 21.3%. In the subgroup analysis, laparoscopic resection rate increased from 10.6% to 60.6% among the surgical resections. Sorafenib initially accounted for 100%, lenvatinib peaked at 36.5% in 2021, and atezolizumab-bevacizumab became the most widely used (63.1%) by 2022 among the systemic therapies. Conclusions This study demonstrates the temporal changes in the treatment patterns of Korean HCC patients. Surgical resection, particularly laparoscopic liver resection, and systemic therapy has increased significantly. These changes may have been influenced by reimbursement policies and advances in clinical research.

OBJECIVE: Although incidence of the cervical cancer has been very high, it is possible to detect the early cervical cancer with screening methods. Among the screening methods of cervical cancer, Papanicolaou smear has lower sensitivity and higher false negative rate. The goal of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of cervicography in cervical cancer screening. METHODS: The data of Papanicolaou smear and cervigram has been obtained from 292 patients. The age range varied between 20 and 78 years with the average age of 42. Histologic specimens were obtained from patients whose abnormalities were detected by either Papanicolaou smear or cervigram. A total of 101 patients received a biopsy. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values, false negative rates and false positive rates. RESULTS: Results for Papanicolaou smear are as follows; sensitivity, 60.8%, specificity, 93.4%, positive predictive values, 66.0%, negative predictive values, 91.8%, false negative rates, 39.2% and false positive rates, 6.6%. In cervicography, sensitivity, 70.1%, specificity, 85.5%, positive predictive values, 56.3%, negative predictive values, 94.5%, false negative rates, 23.5% and false positive rates, 11.6%. Results for the combined methods are sensitivity with 82.4%, specificity with 92.5%, positive predictive values with 51.9%, negative predictive values with 97.0%, false negative rates with 11.8% and false positive rates with 16.2%. CONCLUSION: Cervicography is an effective method to screen cervical cancer. When cervicography is used with Papanicolaou smear, the detection rate of cervical cancer will be increased.
Biopsy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mass Screening* ; Papanicolaou Test ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

In connective tissue diseases, autoantibodies cause pulmonary interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, and patients require treatment with an immunosuppressive agent such as a steroid. Dermatomyositis is an incurable, uncommon form of connective tissue disease that occasionally causes diffuse pulmonary inflammation leading to acute severe respiratory failure. In such cases, the prognosis is very poor despite treatment with high-dose steroid. In the present case, a 46-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea. He was diagnosed with dermatomyositis combined with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) with respiratory failure and underwent treatment with steroid and an immunosuppressive agent, but the COP was not improved. However, the respiratory failure did improve after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, which therefore can be considered a treatment option in cases where steroids and immunosuppressive agents are ineffective.
Autoantibodies ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia* ; Dermatomyositis* ; Dyspnea ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Inflammation ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Steroids

In this immunohistochemical study we applied a monoclonal antibody(mAb) to evaluate the expression pattern of lymphocyte functionassociated antigen 3(LFA-3) in rabbit`s corneas before and after intracorneal injection of Candida albicans. Ten right eyes were induced to get immunocompromized cornea with subconjunctival injection of 2mg of dexamethasone once a day for 3 days(group I), and 10 left eyes had normal cornea without subconjunctival injection of dexamethazone(group II). Each 2 corneas in both group I and II were resected at 3, 12, 24 and 72 hours after intracorneal injection of C. albicans. Each 2 corneas without intracorneal injection of C. albicans in both groups were used as a control. The results were as follows: LFA-3 was expressed weakly on corneal epithlium in control of group I and group II. Expression of LFA-3 on vascular endothelium of group II was somewhat stronger than that of group I, LFA-3 was expressed moderately on vascular endothelium, and was detected on corneal stroma at 3 hors after intracorneal injection in both groups. Expression of LFA-3 on corneal stroma was slightly increased in both group II, and markedly increased in group I at 12 hours after intracorneal injection. Group II showed slightly increased LFA-3 expression on corneal and II to be expressed on corneal endothelium and inflammatory cells at 24 hours after injection. Its expression on corneal epithelium, stroma and endothelium was more increased in group II than in group I at that time. Group I showed moderate LFA-3 expression on corneal epithelium, corneal endothelium and inflammatory cells, and strong expression on corneal stroma and vascular endothelium at 72 hours after infection. Otherwise, LFA-3 expression in group II was weak to moderate n corneal epithelium, corneal endothelium and inflammatory cell, and moderate on corneal stroma and vascular endothelium. In this study, it was found that expression of LFA-3 in group I was weaker than that in group II in control and at 3 hours after intracorneal injection of C. albicans, but group I showed more strong LFA-3 expression than group II after 12 hours of intracorneal injection.
Antigens, CD58 ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Cornea ; Corneal Stroma ; Dexamethasone ; Endothelium ; Endothelium, Corneal ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Lymphocytes ; Rabbits*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether polymorphism of Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene is associated with the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Korean women. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-six PCOS patients and eighty four controls were enrolled. Blood samples were collected from the patients diagnosed according to the 2003 revised criteria of the Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-sponsored PCOS consensus workshop group. Age matched women with regular menstruation from same geographic region were recruited as control subject. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of PCR products were done to determine all individuals' genotype. RESULTS: In women with COMT(LL) genotype, there was decreased PCOS risk and this difference was statistically significant (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.11~0.51). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the COMT(LL) genetic polymorphism might be associated with PCOS risk in Korean women.
Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; Consensus Development Conferences as Topic ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Menstruation ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

PURPOSE: Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Tyr p) is known as the third most common mite following Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) and Dermatophagoides farina (Der f) in Korea. And it is an important allergen in allergic diseases, but there have been no reports on its sensitization rate in Korean children. The aim of this study was to evaluate its sensitization rate and the relationship between Tyr p and other parameters related to allergy. METHODS: This study included 662 allergic patients who visited the allergy clinic of Severance Children's Hospital between 2005 and 2008. Patients consisted of 472 asthmatic children, 102 patients with allergic rhinitis, 59 patients with atopic dermatitis, 7 patients with chronic urticaria and 22 patients with other diseases. Skin prick tests with 32 common allergens and measurements of peripheral blood eosinophil counts, serum total IgE level and eosinophil cationic protein were performed in subjects. RESULTS: Of the 662 patients, 592 (89.4%) showed positive responses to more than one allergen. The number of patients sensitized to Tyr p was 129 (19.5%). The wheal size induced by Tyr p was positively related to age (r=0.102 P=0.009) as well as the wheal size induced by house dust (r=0.298 P<0.001), Der p (r=0.272, P<0.001) and Der f (r=0.272, P<0.001). The wheal size induced by Tyr p was also positively related to serum total eosinophil counts (r=0.101,P=0.015) and IgE (r=0.153, P<0.001) and number of positive skin prick test (r=0.272, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Sensitization to Tyr p is prevalent in children with allergic disease. Therefore, this result should be considered when evaluating allergic children. Further studies are needed to elucidate the clinical significance of sensitization to Tyr p.
Allergens ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Dust ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Korea ; Mites ; Prevalence ; Pyroglyphidae ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Skin ; Urticaria