A 39-year-old hairdresser developed sodium bromate poisoning after drinking a cup of hair neutralizer in a suicide attempt. This is the first case of visual loss afteringestion of sodium bromate. Only few cases are as a cause of acute renal failure reported in medical literature. She presented 1 day later with anuria, required hemodialysis. Sensorineural hearing loss, often a characteristic finding, was developed.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Adult ; Anuria ; Deafness* ; Drinking ; Hair ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Poisoning* ; Renal Dialysis ; Sodium* ; Suicide

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in the dental field. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the most important bacteria in the formation of dental plaque and dental caries. In a previous study, we confirmed that the essential oil of Chrysanthemum boreale has antibacterial activity against S. mutans. Alpha-pinene is one of the major chemical components of Chrysanthemum boreale essential oil. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of α-pinene on cariogenic properties such as growth, acid production, biofilm formation, and bactericidal activity on S. mutans. Alpha-pinene at a concentration range of 0.25-0.5 mg/mL significantly inhibited the growth of S. mutans and acid production of S. mutans. Biofilm formation was significantly inhibited at < 0.0625 mg/mL α-pinene, similar to the data from scanning electronic microscopy. Under confocal laser scanning microscopy, the bacterial viability was decreased by α-pinene in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that α-pinene may be a useful agent for inhibiting the cariogenic properties of S. mutans.
Bacteria ; Biofilms ; Chronic Disease ; Chrysanthemum ; Dental Caries ; Dental Plaque ; Microbial Viability ; Microscopy ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Plants* ; Streptococcus mutans

We studied the best parameter to differentiate preoperatively between malignant ovarian tumors and benign ovarian tumors. From January 1988 to December 1992, 244 patients of ovarian tumor were treated with surgery at Chonnarn University Hospital. Patients diagnosed as malignancy by histopathology were 26.2%(64 patients), As the diagnostic pararnetar, we used age, ultrasonography, tumor markers, CT or MRI. The results were obtained as follows: 1. The predictive value of ultrasonographic examination for ovarian cancer was 73.1%. 2. The predictive value of seren CA-125 level for ovarian cancer was 69.1%. 3. The predictive value of combination af ultrasonographic examination and serum CA 125 level for ovarian cancer was 90%. 4. The predictive value of combination of the age older than 40 years, ultrasonographic examination and serum CA-125 level for warian canrer was 92.3%. 5. The predictive value of comhination of three tumor markers(CA-125, CEA and CA 72-4), ultrasonographic examination, CT and MRI for ovarian cancer was 94.6%. Finally, we could preaperatively most exactly differentiate between malignant ovarian tumors and benign ovarian tumors by use of age, three tumor markers(CA-125, CEA and CA 72-4) and ultrsonography, CT or MRI.
Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Ultrasonography

Weak D type 102 allele (RHD*01W.102) carrying a missense variant (c.73A＞T, p.Ile25Phe) in exon 1 of the RHD has not been reported in Koreans to date. This is the first report of the weak D type 102 allele in the Korean population. The proposita, a 35-year-old woman, showed a serological weak D phenotype in routine RhD typing. Sequencing of all 10 RHD exons and zygosity testing targeting the hybrid Rhesus box revealed this proposita to harbor the weak D type 102 allele, as well as an RHD deletion (RHD*01W.102/RHD*01N.01). Family studies showed that the weak D type 102 allele was also present in her father and older brother (both assumed to be RHD*01W.102/RHD*01) but not in her mother and oldest brother (both assumed to be RHD*01/RHD*01N.01). In silico analysis of the replacement of isoleucine by phenylalanine at position 25 was done with PolyPhen-2, SIFT, and PROVEAN. While PolyPhen-2 predicted the variant as benign, SIFT and PROVEAN predicted it as damaging and deleterious, respectively, suggesting RHD c.73A>T (I25F) as the cause of serologic weak D phenotype. This patient should be treated as D-negative, when transfusion is needed.

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to clarify the relation between nutritional index and length of hospital stay in elderly patients undergoing pancreatic cancer surgery, and to identify factors affecting the length of hospital stay. Methods: Total 102 patients aged over 65 years who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy were retrospectively enrolled from January 1, 2010 to September 30, 2020. All patients were subjected to nutritional screening using Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI). Results: The GNRI average was 95. 66±6.95, with 67.6% of patients having a low GNRI score (malnutrition group). The average regarding PNI was 45.46±5.65, with 54.9% of patients having a low PNI (malnutrition group). The average total length of hospital stay was 23.12±10.69 days. Total length of hospital stay according to the nutritional indexes of the subjects was longer in the low GNRI (t=-2.09, p=.039) and low PNI (t=-2.29, p=.024) groups. Conclusion Poorer preoperative nutritional status increased total length of hospital stay in elderly patients with pancreatic cancer. Assessment of nutritional status of patients using GNRI and PNI is a good strategy for evaluating elderly patients at high risk of having to stay in hospital for more extended periods of time.

Cis-AB and B(A) alleles encode an ABO enzyme with dual A and B glycosyltransferase activity. Although globally rare, the cis-AB phenotype is found relatively often in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese populations. Cases of the B(A) allele have been reported mostly in the Chinese population. Forward typing performed in a Cambodian woman with an ABO discrepancy demonstrated a strong reaction with anti-A and anti-B reagents, while there was no reaction with lectin anti-A 1. The anti-A 1 antibody was detected in reverse typing. Through ABO gene sequence analyses of exons 6 and 7, one of the alleles was identified as ABO*B.01. In contrast, the other allele harboring a c.803G＞C substitution was either ABO*cisAB.05 or ABO*BA.06 allele. The ABO*cisAB.05 and ABO*BA.06 alleles remain indistinguishable despite routine serological testing and ABO genotyping. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first case report of these variants discovered in a Cambodian individual residing in Korea.

Cis-AB and B(A) alleles encode an ABO enzyme with dual A and B glycosyltransferase activity. Although globally rare, the cis-AB phenotype is found relatively often in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese populations. Cases of the B(A) allele have been reported mostly in the Chinese population. Forward typing performed in a Cambodian woman with an ABO discrepancy demonstrated a strong reaction with anti-A and anti-B reagents, while there was no reaction with lectin anti-A 1. The anti-A 1 antibody was detected in reverse typing. Through ABO gene sequence analyses of exons 6 and 7, one of the alleles was identified as ABO*B.01. In contrast, the other allele harboring a c.803G＞C substitution was either ABO*cisAB.05 or ABO*BA.06 allele. The ABO*cisAB.05 and ABO*BA.06 alleles remain indistinguishable despite routine serological testing and ABO genotyping. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first case report of these variants discovered in a Cambodian individual residing in Korea.

BACKGROUND: There has no known epidemiologic survey on the frequency of complementary-alternative medicine (CAM) use in the treatment of adult asthma in Korea. This study examined the current use of CAM by asthma patients in Korea. METHODS: One hundred adults with asthma, who had been admitted to Kyunghee university hospital between January 2000 and December 2003, were enrolled in this survey. They received a structured questionnaire interview and a clinical assessment of prevalence and pattern of CAM use. RESULTS: 53% patients had an experience of at least one type of CAM during their asthma management. Users of CAM had more hospital visits than those who had never used CAM(1.46+/-0.68 vs. 2.11+/-1.20, p=0.001). Those in their 50th decades had more experience of CAM (80%) than the other age groups. The methods of CAM used by our patients are as follows: Diet/nutritional therapy in 35 patients(69%), herbal therapy in 28 patients(53%), acupuncture in 9 patients(17%), moxa treatment in 6 patients(11%), breathing exercises in 1 patient(2%). CONCLUSIONS: More than 50% of patients with bronchial asthma have used CAM. A more detailed and large scaled study will be needed to define the actual status of the use of CAM in the treatment for asthma. Inaddition, further research on the scientific validation of the clinical efficacy of CAM in asthma management should be followed.
Acupuncture ; Adult ; Asthma ; Breathing Exercises ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Korea* ; Phytotherapy ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tertiary Healthcare*

PURPOSE: In the present study, factors related to the recurrence of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in Korean patients were identified, and the prognostic factors for each age group were explored.METHODS: The subjects were 226 patients who were diagnosed with DCIS by histopathologic examination, and the effect of representative prognostic factors that are known already, including estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, Ki-67 levels, and adjuvant therapy on the recurrence of DCIS was analyzed by using the Cox proportional hazard model.RESULTS: Among the 226 subjects, 11 patients underwent the recurrence of breast cancer. The average follow-up period was 52.7±23.5 months. The average age of the subjects was 50.6±9.3 years. Among the DCIS patients, the recurrence of breast cancer was significantly higher in the ER negative patients and those who have a Ki-67 level over 20%. However, the PR and HER2 status did not significantly affect breast cancer recurrence. The result also showed that only ER negative was a significant factor before the age of 50 years and that only the Ki-67 level over 20% was a significant factor to the patients 50 years of age or older.CONCLUSION: DCIS patients should be appropriately treated and managed depending on their age and clinicopathological factors to prevent the recurrence of DCIS.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; Estrogens ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Receptors, Progesterone ; Recurrence

Purpose: The incidence of poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) is extremely low among thyroid cancers and there is no standardized treatment guideline for it. In this study, we have analyzed PDTC patients and reviewed their clinicopathological features. Methods: Data of PDTC patients from our institution are collected through the electronic medical database. We analyzed them by several parameters such as basic demographics, presenting symptom, preoperative cytology results, associated pathology, surgical results, surgery type, and distant metastasis. Results: We collected 23 cases in our institution. Apart from two patients who were transferred to another hospital upon diagnosis, all 21 operated cases are analyzed. The parameters we studied were age, sex, presenting symptoms, distant metastasis and pathological features such as tumor size, associated pathology, predominant pattern and so on. We also provided descriptive analyses according to the type of presentation and treatment; patients with distant metastasis, juvenile cancer, and concurrent hyperthyroidism. Furthermore, we provided different cases in which the initial surgical plans differed. Conclusion We present 21 cases of PDTC patients and clarify their clinicopathological features. Despite some limitations, this study may shed light for future research regarding treatment of PDTC patients.