Objective: : Spinal degeneration is a progressive disease, worsening over time. Lumbar degenerative disease (LDD) is a major spinal disease in elderly patients. Surgical treatment is considered for medically intractable patients with LDD and reoperation after primary surgery is not uncommon. The surgical outcome is occasionally unpredictable because of comorbidities. In the present study, the relationship between comorbidities and the incidence of reoperation for LDD over time was determined. Methods: : The claims data of the health insurance national database were used to identify a cohort of patients who underwent spinal surgery for LDD in 2009. The patients were followed up until 2016. Medical comorbidity was assessed according to the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Cox proportional hazard regression modeling was used to identify significant differences in sex, surgery, age, causative disease, and comorbidity. Results: : The study cohort included 78241 patients; 10328 patients (13.2%) underwent reoperation during the observation period. The reoperation rate was statistically higher (p<0.01) in males, patients 55–74 years and 65–74 years of age, and patients with decompression or discectomy. Significant association was found between increasing reoperation rate and CCI score (p<0.01). Based on multivariate analysis of comorbidities, the significantly higher reoperation rates were observed in patients with peripheral vascular disease, pulmonary lung disease, peptic ulcer, diabetes, and diabetes complications (p<0.01). Conclusion : The study results indicate the reoperation rate for LDD is associated with patient comorbidities. The comorbidities identified in this study could be helpful in future LDD studies.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a controlled release, once-daily formulation of mosapride (UI05MSP015CT) in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). METHODS: Patients with FD were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either UI05MSP015CT (15 mg once a day, study group) or mosapride (5 mg three times a day, control group) and corresponding placebo for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was a change in the gastrointestinal symptom score (GIS) evaluated at enrollment and after 4 weeks. Secondary endpoints were changes in the Nepean Dyspepsia Index-Korean version (NDI-K), rate of satisfactory symptom relief, and rate of adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 138 patients were enrolled (female, 73.9%; mean age, 44.0±15.4 years). After excluding patients who violated the study protocol, 59 and 58 patients from the study and control groups, respectively, were included in the per-protocol analysis. No difference was observed in drug compliance between the control and study groups (97.07%±4.52% vs 96.85%±6.05%, p=0.870). Changes in GIS scores were 9.69±6.44 and 10.01±5.92 in the study and control groups. The mean difference in GIS change between groups was 0.33 (95% confidence interval, 1.75 to 2.41), demonstrating non-inferiority of UI-05MSP015CT (p=0.755). The rate of satisfactory symptom relief was not different between the study and control groups (39.0% vs 56.9%, p=0.053). No differences in change in NDI-K score (14.3 vs 16.9, p=0.263) or rates of adverse events (12.9% vs. 4.4%, p=0.062) were observed between the study and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily mosapride is not inferior to conventional mosapride in efficacy and is safe in patients with FD.
Compliance ; Dyspepsia* ; Humans

This study compared the efficacy of DA-9601 (Dong-A ST Co., Seoul, Korea) and its new formulation, DA-5204 (Dong-A ST Co.), for treating erosive gastritis. This phase III, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, non-inferiority trial randomly assigned 434 patients with endoscopically proven gastric mucosal erosions into two groups: DA-9601 3 times daily or DA-5,204 twice daily for 2 weeks. The final analysis included 421 patients (DA-5204, 209; DA-9601, 212). The primary endpoint (rate of effective gastric erosion healing) and secondary endpoints (cure rate of endoscopic erosion and gastrointestinal [GI] symptom relief) were assessed using endoscopy after the treatment. Drug-related adverse events (AEs), including GI symptoms, were also compared. At week 2, gastric healing rates with DA-5204 and DA-9601 were 42.1% (88/209) and 42.5% (90/212), respectively. The difference between the groups was −0.4% (95% confidence interval, −9.8% to 9.1%), which was above the non-inferiority margin of −14%. The cure rate of gastric erosion in both groups was 37.3%. The improvement rates of GI symptoms with DA-5204 and DA-9601 were 40.4% and 40.8%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in both secondary endpoints. AEs were reported in 18 (8.4%) patients in the DA-5204 group and 19 (8.8%) in the DA-9601 group. Rates of AE were not different between the two groups. No serious AE or adverse drug reaction (ADR) occurred. These results demonstrate the non-inferiority of DA-5204 compared to DA-9601. DA-5204 is as effective as DA-9601 in the treatment of erosive gastritis. Registered randomized clinical trial at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02282670)
Artemisia ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Endoscopy ; Gastritis* ; Humans ; Seoul

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although controversial, probiotics and dietary fiber are commonly used for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We evaluated the effects of multistrain probiotics on the symptoms of IBS to determine whether the addition of dietary fi ber had an additive effect on constipation-predominant IBS. METHODS: A total of 142 participants who met the Rome III criteria were recruited and randomized into a control group or a test group. Participants in the control group received multistrain probiotic fermented milk with Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium infantis; the participants in the test group received the same probiotic fermented milk mixed with dietary fi ber such as sea tangle extracts, radish extracts and glasswort extracts. The patients were treated for four weeks. RESULTS: Most of the symptoms of IBS, with the exception of fl atulence, stool consistency, and frequency of defecation, signifi cantly improved in both groups. In the analysis of IBS subtypes, especially constipation-predominant IBS, the frequency and duration of defecation and straining at stool were improved more in the test group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary fiber had additive benefits for the symptoms of constipation, especially in constipation-predominant IBS.
Bifidobacterium ; Constipation ; Defecation ; Dietary Fiber ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Lactobacillus acidophilus ; Milk ; Probiotics ; Raphanus ; Rome ; Sprains and Strains ; Streptococcus thermophilus

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Internet has become an important source of medical information not only for doctors but also patients. However, information available in the Internet may provide wrong or even harmful knowledge to the public. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of Internet-based medical information about Barrett's esophagus in Korea. METHODS: The first 50 Internet links were retrieved from the Google using the key word 'Barrett's esophagus'. The quality of information from a total of 49 websites was evaluated using a checklist. RESULTS: Among total 49 sites related to 'Barrett's esophagus', only 4 sites (8.2%) were made by hospitals or clinics, and 11 sites (22.4%) were for patients. Of the 49 sites, only one web site (2.0%) had all HON CODE principles (authority, complementarity, confidentiality, attribution, justifiability, transparency of authorship, transparency of sponsorship, honesty in advertising and editorial policy). Sixteen Internet links (32.0%) had fair contents for the definition, and 24 links (48.0%) for the diagnosis, and 15 links (30.0%) for the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Information about Barrett's esophagus was incomplete in the majority of medical web sites. It will bring about confusion in patients who want to get information about Barrett's esophagus from the Internet. There is a need for better evidence-based information about Barrett's esophagus on the web.
*Barrett Esophagus/diagnosis/etiology/therapy ; Health Education ; Humans ; Information Services ; *Internet ; Korea ; Medical Informatics ; Quality of Health Care ; User-Computer Interface

PURPOSE: To know biomechanical differences in methods of limb lengthening between using monolateral external fixator and using external fixator over an intramedullary nail. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In acryl rods, saw-bone, and cadeveric bone, we created two lengthening models of using monolateral external fixator and using external fixator over an intramedullary nail. The axial compression test was done on the site of osteotomy for lengthening. To fix the models, half pins of 5 mm in diameter and nails of 9 mm in diameter were used. Using MTS (Material Test System) machine, we evaluated the differences of axial stiffness according to the presence of an intramedullary nail or the numbers of half-pins which were fixed at each side of osteotomy. RESULTS: Lengthening over an intramedullary nail, comparing to monolateral external fixator only, increased the axial stiffness by 1.1~1.2 times in acryl rods, 1.2~1.6 times in saw bones, and 15.6~15.9 times in cadeveric bones when the same numbers of half-pins were used. In saw bone and cadaveric bone, the group of two half pins in lengthening over an intramedullary nail was stiffer than the group of three pins in lengthening with monolateral external fixator. CONCLUSION: In the distraction of the limb, the addition of an intramedullary nail may increase the axial stiffness of the frame of monolateral external fixator. In lengthening over an intramedullary nail, it is enough to distract the bone with fixing two half pins at each sides of osteotomy.
Cadaver ; External Fixators* ; Extremities ; Osteotomy

Primary gastric lymphomas can be defined as lymphomas which are confined to the stomach without systemic metastasis. Primary gastric Burkitt's lymphoma is a rare disease that belongs to the aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment, even in the localized disease. We report a case of primary gastric Burkitt's lymphoma in a 24-year-old female presenting with an intermittent epigastric pain for 3 months. Upper gastroduodenal endoscopy detected an ulcer with thickened folds on the greater curvature side of the lower body, and histologic examination of the biopsy specimens revealed infiltration of medium-sized lymphoblasts with characteristic "starry sky" macrophages. Abdominal CT scan demonstrated marked gastric wall thickening and regional lymph node enlargement.
Biopsy ; Burkitt Lymphoma* ; Drug Therapy ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Macrophages ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rare Diseases ; Stomach ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ulcer ; Young Adult

Primary gastric lymphomas can be defined as lymphomas which are confined to the stomach without systemic metastasis. Primary gastric Burkitt's lymphoma is a rare disease that belongs to the aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment, even in the localized disease. We report a case of primary gastric Burkitt's lymphoma in a 24-year-old female presenting with an intermittent epigastric pain for 3 months. Upper gastroduodenal endoscopy detected an ulcer with thickened folds on the greater curvature side of the lower body, and histologic examination of the biopsy specimens revealed infiltration of medium-sized lymphoblasts with characteristic "starry sky" macrophages. Abdominal CT scan demonstrated marked gastric wall thickening and regional lymph node enlargement.
Biopsy ; Burkitt Lymphoma* ; Drug Therapy ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Macrophages ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rare Diseases ; Stomach ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ulcer ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The administration of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by protracted intravenous infusion is an alternative to the bolus administration of 5-FU in patients with advanced colorectal cancers. This study was performed to evaluate the response rate and toxicities of protracted infusion of 5-FU in patients with advanced or recurrent colorectal cancers who had been treated with 5-FU by bolus or shortterm continuous administration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 1995 and June 1997, twenty-eight patients with advanced colorectal cancer previously exposed to 5-FU based chemotherapy were enrolled in this triaL Patients received 5-FU (250 mg/m(2)/day days 1-28) or 5-FU plus leucovorin (5-FU; 200 mg/m/day days 1-28, leucovorin; 20 mg/m IV days 1, 8, 15, 21) by ambulatory infusion pump. Treatment course was repeated every 42 days until disease progression. RESULT: Twenty-eight patients entered. All 28 patients were assessable for response and toxicity. Five (19%) patients achieved a partial response, with the median response duration of 15 weeks (range; 7-22 weeks), and median survival time of entire patients was 54 weeks (range 7-151+ weeks). Gastrointestinal toxicity, specifically stomatitis was a major toxicity (grade 2, 12%; grade 3, 4%), but hand-foot syndrome was less frequent (5%) compared with other trials with protracted infusion of 5-FU reported in the literature. Hematologic toxicity was generally of low grade. CONCLUSION: Prolonged intravenous infusion of 5-FU can produce a response rate of 19% with low toxicity among patients refractory to bolus or short-term infusion of S-FU.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Disease Progression ; Drug Therapy* ; Fluorouracil* ; Hand-Foot Syndrome ; Humans ; Infusion Pumps ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Leucovorin ; Stomatitis

Methods of removing strangulating objects from the penis have been described in many cases. We report a unique method, namely, melting a polyethylene tereftalate ring with a heated blade, which was very effective and safe for removal.
Foreign Bodies ; Freezing ; Hot Temperature* ; Male ; Penis* ; Polyethylene*