Aging has become a global problem, and the interest in healthy aging is growing. Healthy aging involves a focus on the maintenance of the function and well-being of elderly adults, rather than a specific disease. Thus, the management of frailty, which is an accumulated decline in function, is important for healthy aging. The adaptation method was used to develop clinical practice guidelines on frailty management that are applicable in primary care settings. The guidelines were developed in three phases: preparation (organization of committees and establishment of the scope of development), literature screening and evaluation (selection of the clinical practice guidelines to be adapted and evaluation of the guidelines using the Korean Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II tool), and confirmation of recommendations (three rounds of Delphi consensus and internal and external reviews). A total of 16 recommendations (five recommendations for diagnosis and assessment, 11 recommendations for intervention of frailty) were made through the guideline development process. These clinical practice guidelines provide overall guidance on the identification, evaluation, intervention, and monitoring of frailty, making them applicable in primary care settings. As aging and “healthy aging” become more and more important, these guidelines are also expected to increase in clinical usefulness.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an elevated risk of venous thromboembolism compared with the general population. The most common sites of venous thromboembolism in IBD patients are the deep veins of the legs, the pulmonary system, and portal and mesenteric veins. However, cerebral venous thrombosis is rarely associated with IBD. This report describes a case of cerebral venous thrombosis in a patient with Crohn's disease. A 17-year-old girl, diagnosed 4 years earlier with Crohn's disease, presented with headache and vomiting. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain with venography showed venous thrombosis in the cortical veins, superior sagittal sinus, right transverse sinus, and right internal jugular vein. The patient immediately started anticoagulation therapy with intravenous heparin infusion followed by daily oral rivaroxaban 10 mg. Follow-up imaging after 2 weeks showed resolution of the thrombosis, with recanalization of the cortical veins, superior sagittal sinus, right transverse sinus, and right internal jugular vein. She continued rivaroxaban therapy for 6 months, and remained well, without neurologic sequelae. A high level of concern for cerebral venous thrombosis may be important when treating active IBD patients, because anticoagulation treatment can prevent fatal complications.
Adolescent ; Brain ; Crohn Disease* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Heparin ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Jugular Veins ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mesenteric Veins ; Phlebography ; Rivaroxaban ; Superior Sagittal Sinus ; Thrombosis ; Veins ; Venous Thromboembolism ; Venous Thrombosis* ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of a simplified zero ischemia technique using kidney donor computed tomographic (CT) angiography and conventional laparoscopic bulldog clamps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a review of seven robot-assisted partial nephrectomies (RAPNs) performed by a single surgeon from January 2012 to May 2012. Using a simplified protocol of 3-dimentional reconstruction, tertiary arterial branches supplying the tumor were selectively clamped prior to resection. We used conventional laparoscopic bulldog clamps instead of microsurgical vessel clamps. The patients' demographic information, perioperative outcomes, pathologic outcomes and pre- and postoperative renal functions up to 3 months follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: RAPN were successfully performed for seven complex renal hilar tumors. There were no significant differences in the total operation time, estimated blood loss or postoperative outcomes compared with published literature on standard RAPN. Negative surgical margins were reported in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: We presented a simplified-zero ischemia technique using kidney Donor CT angiography and conventional laparoscopic bulldog clamps. We have also demonstrated its safety and feasibility in patients with complex renal hilar tumors. This modified technique can be easily adopted by most surgeons who are currently performing RAPN.
Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Ischemia ; Kidney ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Nephrectomy ; Robotics ; Tissue Donors

PURPOSE: Female lung cancers have different clinical features and therapeutic results as compared to those of male lung cancers. The aim of this study was to analyze the differences of Korean men and women with lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We re-analyzed the results of a national survey of lung cancer conducted by the Korean Association for the Study of Lung Cancer in 2005. RESULTS: Of the 8,788 patients, 2,124 (24.2%) were female. The mean age at the diagnosis was 62.5 years for the females and 64.8 years for the males and the difference was significant (p<0.001). An age <50 years was more frequent for the women than for the men (16.2% vs. 7.9%, respectively; p=0.001). The stages between genders were different for the patients with non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) (p<0.001), but not for the patients with small cell carcinoma. The overall survival time was longer for woman than that for the man (p<0.001). However, the male patients had longer survival for the smokers with adenocarcinoma and the smokers with squamous cell carcinoma. The never smoker female patients had a better survival time than did the smoking female patients, but the male patient' survival was not influenced by the smoking status. The stage-specific survival rates were better for the women at all stages of NSCLC (p<0.001). The women who received chemotherapy had a longer survival time did the men who received chemotherapy (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Women with lung cancer were relatively overrepresented among the younger patients and they smoked less intensively, raising the question of gender- specific differences in the carcinogenesis of lung cancer. Over-representation of adenocarcinoma was observed in the women regardless of their smoking status. Women with lung cancer had a better prognosis than men; however, the smoking females showed the worst prognosis. Gender and the smoking status are clearly important factors in the therapeutic approach to lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Prognosis ; Republic of Korea ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: As patients who take immediate breast reconstructions with TRAM flap have increased, concomitant or delayed other elective intra-abdominal operations in these patients also have increased. There are few reports of concomitant or delayed intra-abdominal operation in TRAM flap patients. We report our experiences and outcomes of these operations which is safe and feasible. METHODS: We reviewed the charts and postoperative follow-up results of 11 patients among 471 consecutive patients who took immediate breast reconstruction with TRAM flap from December of 2002 to September of 2006. Four patients took concomitant intra-abdominal operation and 7 patients took delayed intra-abdominal operation between 1 to 52 months after TRAM flap RESULTS: There were no significant postoperative abdominal and systemic complications. One patient who took concomitant intra-abdominal operation presented partial skin necrosis of abdomen, but recovered completely with conservative treatments. Two patients took transfusion in peri-operative periods. CONCLUSION: Concomitant or delayed intra-abdominal operation in immediate breast reconstruction with TRAM flap could be performed safely and feasibly when it is necessary. Furthermore, it could be helpful to patients and surgeons.
Abdomen ; Breast ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; Necrosis ; Skin

Granulocytic sarcoma (GS) is a rare extramedullary tumor composed of immature myeloid precursor cells. GS is associated with acute or chronic myeloid leukemia; it has rarely been reported in non-leukemic patients. We report two cases of GS with unusual presentations; neither had bone marrow involvement. The first case was a GS presenting with multiple intra-abdominal masses in a 43-year-old man. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed masses in the small bowel and right adrenal gland. The second case was a patient with a GS presenting with symptoms of spinal cord compression in a 32-year-old man. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an extradural mass in the spinal canal at the T3-T5 levels. Blood smear and bone marrow studies were normal. These cases show that GS should be included in the differential diagnosis of intra-abdominal masses and extradural spinal cord tumors, even in the absence of leukemia.
Abdomen ; Adrenal Glands ; Adult ; Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Sarcoma, Myeloid ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord Compression ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms

PURPOSE: Reduction mammaplasty is one of the most commonly performed operations in plastic surgery. Although secondary surgery is occasionally required for minor aesthetic problems or for treatment of the complications of the primary surgery, there are no clear operative guidelines of management. We report here two cases of secondary reduction mammaplasty using differrent pedicle from the initial ones. METHODS: One case of secondary reduction mammaplasty were performed using medial pedicle after central (19 years) pedicle reduction mammaplasty because of subsequent breast ptosis and asymmetry. The other case was performed using medial pedicle after superior (4 years) pedicle reduction mammaplasty with contralateral immediate breast reconstruction with TRAM flap because of subsequent breast ptosis and asymmetry. Care was taken to include sufficient width of pedicle and adequate soft tissue attachment beneath the nipple-areolar complex. RESULTS: There was no significant complication such as nipple-areolar necrosis or fat necrosis. The results were well maintained throughout the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Medial pedicle reduction mammaplasty can be safely performed after central or superior pedicle reduction mammaplasty when sufficient width of pedicle and adequate soft tissue attachment beneath the nippleareolar complex are maintained.
Breast ; Fat Necrosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Mammaplasty ; Necrosis ; Surgery, Plastic

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRPF) is a rare disease characterized by a retroperitoneal inflammatory proliferative fibrosing process. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common inflammatory condition of the thyroid gland; and is a frequently-occurring autoimmune disorder manifesting predominantly in middle-aged women. We report a rare association of IRPF with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in a 67-year-old man demonstrating good response to steroid therapy.
Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Hashimoto Disease/*complications/drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnenediones/therapeutic use ; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis/*complications/drug therapy/pathology

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common chronic diseases which primary care family physician encounters. This study was performed to describe the medical care for patients with diabetes based on the Cheonan Practice-Based Research Network. METHODS: From May 2005 to July 2005, 193 patients with diabetes were assessed among the patients visiting seven family medicine clinics in Cheonan. The data were collected through a questionnaire about patient's socioeconomic characteristics, the details of medical care including screening practices of diabetic complications, self-monitoring of blood glucose and exercise. RESULTS: Among the patients with diabetes, 25.4% reported no exercise and another 29.6% reported regular exercise of more than 4 times a week. The less educated and the more elderly patients reported less exercise. Only 37.3% of patients monitored their blood glucose at home. The more educated, the more likely the patients monitored their blood glucose. Only 18.1% of patients reported having an annual 24-hour urine protein examination. The more educated and the more income they had, the more annual 24-hour urine protein examination was done. Only 32.6% of patients reported having an annual ophthalmologic examination, but there was no associated factors with having an annual ophthalmologic examination. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the medical care for diabetic patients, including exercise, self-monitoring of blood glucose, screening of complications, may not be optimal for preventing diabetes complications, and was influenced by demographic characteristics such as age and education level. It is necessary for health care team to provide systematic education for diabetes and ongoing close monitoring of self care practices.
Aged ; Blood Glucose ; Chronic Disease ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Education ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Patient Care Team ; Physicians, Family ; Primary Health Care* ; Self Care* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The role of the da Vinci(TM) robot is being defined in minimally invasive urologic surgery. Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (rLRP) has emerged as a feasible treatment option for patients with organ-confined prostate cancer. We performed the first four rLRPs on four prostate cancer patients in the Republic of Korea. This is a report of its techniques and outcomes. In all four cases, the surgery was successfully completed with a mean operative time of 392.5 minutes. The mean estimated blood loss was 312.5mL, and catheterization lasted 14 to 21 days. There were no major intraoperative or postoperative complications. The mean hospital stay was 11 days. The rLRP is a safe and feasible approach. It will become one of the standard options for the management of localized prostate cancer.
*Robotics ; Prostatectomy/*methods ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Laparoscopy/*methods ; Korea ; Humans ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Aged