PURPOSE: Nowadays importance of growth factors in wound healing is being focused. Wound healing can be accelerated by various growth factors. Wound healing cascade consists of inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) helps proliferation of fibroblast and promotes angiogenesis and formation of granulation tissue through proliferative phase. We investigated the effect of recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor Fiblast(R) (Kaken Pharmaceutical, Japan) on second degree burns. METHODS: 57 patients from July 2009 to September 2009 with second degree burn were treated with bFGF. Average age, sex, cause of burn, depth of burn, location of wound, epithelization period and number of operation were studied. Recombinant bFGF was used with spraying. The bFGT was sprayed and wait for 30 seconds and then foam dressing was applied to wounds. The bFGF administration continued until the wound healed. RESULTS: The average healing time in the bFGF-treated group was 8.4+/-2.2 days (4~14 days). Among 57 patients, 19 patients had superficial second degree burn and the average healing time in the bFGF-treated group was 7.2+/-1.5 days (4~9 days), 30 patients had deep second degree burn and the average healing time in the bFGF-treated group was 11.2+/-1.7 days (9~14 days). 20 patients had deep second degree burn and were clinically considered to get operation during hospital course but eventually 8 of patients (40%) with deep second degree burn treated with bFGF underwent operation. CONCLUSION: The use of bFGF for second-degree burns decreased the wound healing time. Especially the use of bFGF decreased the rate of getting operation in deep second degree burn and increased the convenience of treatment.
Bandages ; Biological Dressings ; Burns ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Fibroblasts ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Wound Healing

Extramedullary plasmacytoma is a non-epithelial neoplasm of plasma cell origin that does not accompany a systemic spread. Only a few cases of this disease developed in the temporal bone have been reported so far. This case report describes an unusual case of solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the temporal bone that mimicked a large jugular foramen tumor with hypoglossal canal involvement. The tumor was diagnosed by a biopsy from the external auditory canal at the outpatient clinic, and effectively controlled with primary radiotherapy. Based on our experience, when a jugular foramen tumor is suspected, such as in the case of extramedullary plasmacytoma, a biopsy for pathologic investigation should be considered whenever necessary in order to distinguish lesions that may not require nonsurgical treatment.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Biopsy ; Ear Canal ; Plasma Cells ; Plasmacytoma* ; Radiotherapy ; Temporal Bone

No abstract available.
Hyperparathyroidism* ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Plasma Cells* ; Plasma*

Topiramate is an antiepileptic drug widely used to treat various seizures, mood disorders and migraine based on its various pharmacological mechanisms. Even though nephrolithiasis is listed as one of its side effects, there have been no cases reporting nephrolithiasis caused by use of topiramate on Korean pediatric patients. Since the use of topiramate is increasing in many patients, the possibility of nephrolithiasis after the treatment needs to be considered. Here, we report our experience in correcting neprholithiasis by simply discontinuing topiramate without administering any additional treatments.
Anticonvulsants ; Fructose ; Humans ; Migraine Disorders ; Mood Disorders ; Nephrolithiasis ; Seizures

Gene therapy holds a great promise and has been extensively investigated to improve bone formation and regeneration therapies in bone tissue engineering. A variety of osteogenic genes can be delivered by combining different vectors (viral or non-viral), scaffolds and delivery methodologies. Ex vivo & in vivo gene enhanced tissue engineering approaches have led to successful osteogenic differentiation and bone formation. In this article, we review recent advances of gene therapy-based bone tissue engineering discussing strengths and weaknesses of various strategies as well as general overview of gene therapy.
Bone and Bones* ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; Genetic Therapy* ; Osteogenesis ; Regeneration ; Tissue Engineering

In this case report, we describe a 71-year-old woman with right conal coronary artery-to-pulmonary trunk fistula. She visited the outpatient clinic of the nephrology department for long-term management of renal dysfunction. On transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) conducted as a part of cardiac evaluation, an abnormal Doppler color flow taking a course toward echocardiographic probe was incidentally detected outside the main pulmonary trunk, giving an impression of congenital coronary arteriovenous (AV) fistula. Computed tomography coronary angiography confirmed the presence of congenital coronary AV fistula from a conal branch of the right coronary artery to the main pulmonary trunk in the form of a ground cherry. Although the direction of Doppler color flow is not usual (i.e. toward, not away from, echocardiographic probe) in this case, congenital coronary AV fistula should be in the first priority among potential diagnoses when an abnormal Doppler color flow was found near the main pulmonary trunk on TTE.
Aged ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Arteries ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Nephrology ; Physalis

Cardiac trauma from penetrating chest injury is a life-threatening condition. It was reported that < 10% of patients arrives at the emergency department alive. Penetrating chest injury can cause serious damage in more than 1 cardiac structure, including myocardial lacerations, ventricular septal defect (VSD), fistula between aorta and right cardiac chamber and valves. The presence of pericardial effusion (even a small amount) on the initial echocardiography might be the only clue to serious cardiac damage in the absence of definite evidence of anatomical defect in heart. We here present a case, in which clear diagnosis of VSD and pseudoaneurysmal formation was delayed a few days after penetrating chest injury due to the lack of anatomical evidence of damage.
Aneurysm, False ; Aorta ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Emergencies ; Fistula ; Heart ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Pericardial Effusion ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thorax

Background: Consistent uptake of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is important to reduce the incidence and mortality from advanced-stage CRC and increase the survival rate of the patients. We conducted a longitudinal study to determine the factors affecting CRC screening compliance in Korean adults using individual-level linked data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Korean National Health Insurance Service, and Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: We selected 3,464 adults aged 50–79 years as the study population and followed them for 12 years (January 2007–December 2018). The outcome variable was the level of adherence to CRC screening, categorized as nonadherent, intermittently adherent, and consistently adherent. An ordinal logistic regression model was designed to determine the socioeconomic factors, family history of CRC, and medical conditions that could facilitate the consistent uptake of CRC screening. Results: The results showed a significant and positive association between consistent uptake of CRC screening and the 100–150% income category (odds ratio [OR], 1.710; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.401–2.088); clerical, sales and service job category (OR, 1.962; 95% CI, 1.582–2.433); residency at medium-sized cities (OR, 1.295; 95% CI, 1.094–1.532); high-school graduation (OR, 1.440; 95% CI, 1.210–1.713); married status (OR, 2.281; 95% CI, 1.946–2.674); use of employment-based national health insurance (OR, 1.820; 95% CI, 1.261–2.626); use of private insurance (OR, 2.259; 95% CI, 1.970–2.589); no disability (OR, 1.428; 95% CI, 1.175–1.737); family history of CRC (OR, 2.027; 95% CI, 1.514–2.714); and history of colorectal neoplasm (OR, 1.216; 95% CI; 1.039–1.422). Conclusion The lack of regular participation in CRC screening programs in the Republic of Korea was found to be an issue that requires attention. Policies on CRC screening must place increased emphasis on strengthening educational and public relations initiatives.

Background/Aims: Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that usually follows an indolent clinical course. However, some patients show an aggressive clinical course leading to death. We explored the risk factors predicting poor prognosis in WM patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 47 patients diagnosed with WM between 2000 and 2018 to explore risk factors predicting poor prognosis using various clinical and laboratory parameters and risk models including the International Prognostic Staging System for WM (IPSS-WM). Results: Over a median follow-up duration of 80.4 months, 29 patients died. The main causes of death were disease progression, organ failure related to amyloidosis, and infection. The median overall survival (OS) was 55.1 months, and 14 patients, including three with amyloidosis, died within 2 years. Serum β2-microglobulin level higher than 4 mg/dL was significantly associated with poor OS. Accordingly, the IPSS-WM showed a significant association with poor prognosis compared with other risk models, and the low-risk group had better OS than intermediate- and high-risk groups. In the retrospective analysis using the results of targeted sequencing in two cases representing good and bad prognosis, different patterns of mutation profiles were observed, including mutations of MYD88, TP53, ARID1A, and JAK2 in a refractory case. Conclusions Serum β2-microglobulin could be a single biomarker strongly predictive of poor survival of WM patients, and the low-risk group of the IPSS-WM risk model including serum β2-microglobulin has better prognostic value than other risk models. Mutation analysis also might provide additional information to predict high-risk patients.

Background/Aims: Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that usually follows an indolent clinical course. However, some patients show an aggressive clinical course leading to death. We explored the risk factors predicting poor prognosis in WM patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 47 patients diagnosed with WM between 2000 and 2018 to explore risk factors predicting poor prognosis using various clinical and laboratory parameters and risk models including the International Prognostic Staging System for WM (IPSS-WM). Results: Over a median follow-up duration of 80.4 months, 29 patients died. The main causes of death were disease progression, organ failure related to amyloidosis, and infection. The median overall survival (OS) was 55.1 months, and 14 patients, including three with amyloidosis, died within 2 years. Serum β2-microglobulin level higher than 4 mg/dL was significantly associated with poor OS. Accordingly, the IPSS-WM showed a significant association with poor prognosis compared with other risk models, and the low-risk group had better OS than intermediate- and high-risk groups. In the retrospective analysis using the results of targeted sequencing in two cases representing good and bad prognosis, different patterns of mutation profiles were observed, including mutations of MYD88, TP53, ARID1A, and JAK2 in a refractory case. Conclusions Serum β2-microglobulin could be a single biomarker strongly predictive of poor survival of WM patients, and the low-risk group of the IPSS-WM risk model including serum β2-microglobulin has better prognostic value than other risk models. Mutation analysis also might provide additional information to predict high-risk patients.