PURPOSE: Currently, in treatment of symptomatic common bile duct (CBD) stone, the endoscopic retrograde cholagiopancreatography (ERCP) is usually carried out as an initial evaluation and removal of CBD stones. But, many cases necessitate surgical exploration of CBD and stone removal. Recently, laparoscopic CBD exploration (LCBDE) procedure is increasing due to the high success rate of stone clearance with the easy use of a choledochoscope and the advantage of less aggressive laparoscopic procedure properties. We reviewed the long-term results and efficacy of LCBDE in relation to traditional open CBDE results to demonstrate the superiority of LCBDE. METHODS: From July 1997 until July 2007, 189 consecutive patients with CBD stones were enrolled in a retrospective study. Those patients were divided into two-groups: Laparoscopic CBDE (group L) and Open CBDE (group O), and compared the patients' clinical characteristics, postoperative outcomes and follow up data. RESULTS: Of 189 patients who underwent successful CBD exploration, 66 (34.9%) were open group and 123 (65.1%) were laparoscopic group. Stone clearance rate was 100% in both groups. The mean operation time, incidence of postoperative complications and hospital days had no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The cases of T-tube insertion and recurrence of CBD stone were significantly more in open group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: On investigation of long-term follow up data of the two groups, CBD stone recurrence cases were significantly fewer in laparoscopic group. The lower incidence of complication and stone recurrence is evidence of the superiority of laparoscopic procedure in CBD exploration and removal of CBD stones.
Choledocholithiasis ; Common Bile Duct ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Incidence ; Nitro Compounds ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of brand image of baby food on brand relationship quality and reuse intentions. METHODS: A total of 211 questionnaires completed by customers who bought Brand B baby food were obtained from empirical research. SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 23.0 were employed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Customers perceived Brand B baby food as “Convenient”, “Professional”, “Reliable”, “Famous”, and “Healthy”. Overall, the results indicate that perceived image for Brand B baby food had a significantly positive effect on brand relationship quality in terms of self-concept connection, commitment, and partner quality and intimacy. In addition, commitment and partner quality and intimacy had significantly positive effects on reuse intentions for Brand B baby food. CONCLUSION: The results of this study reveal the importance of brand image in baby food to improve brand relationship quality in terms of commitment and partner quality and intimacy as well as reuse intentions. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize positive brand image as a key factor in forming relationships between consumers and brands as well as search for ways to apply marketing strategies based on brand image.
Empirical Research ; Intention* ; Marketing

Vibrio vulnificus is a gram-negative bacterium that can cause serious, potentially fatal infections. V. vulnificus causes three distinct syndromes: an overwhelming primary septicemia caused by consuming contaminated seafood, wound infections acquired when an open wound is exposed to contaminated warm seawater, and gastrointestinal tract-limited infections. Case-fatality rates are higher than 50% for primary septicemia, and death typically occurs within 72 hours of hospitalization. Risk factors for V. vulnificus infection include chronic liver disease, alcoholism, and hematological disorders. When V. vulnificus infection is suspected, appropriate antibiotic treatment and surgical interventions should be performed immediately. Third-generation cephalosporin with doxycycline, or quinolone with or without third-generation cephalosporin, may be potential treatment options for patients with V. vulnificus infection.
Alcoholism ; Diagnosis ; Doxycycline ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Prognosis ; Public Health* ; Risk Factors ; Seafood ; Seawater ; Sepsis ; Vibrio vulnificus* ; Vibrio* ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries

Objective: To investigate the effect of low frequency cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on balance impairment in patients with cerebral infarction. Methods: Thirty-two patients were randomly divided into two groups: rTMS group (n=16) and control (n=16). In the rTMS group, treatment was performed five times per week for 2 weeks (10 sessions), and in the control group, a sham coil was used with the sound and sensation of scalp similar to the rTMS coil. Patients in both groups underwent a conventional rehabilitation program. Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used as the primary outcome measurement. Timed Up and Go test (TUG), 10-m walk test (10mWT), and Activity-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC) were used as the secondary outcome measurement. All scales were measured at baseline (T0), after 10 sessions of rTMS (T1), and at 4 weeks after treatment completion (T2) by therapists with over 5 years of clinical experience. Results: There were significant improvements between T0 and T1, and between T0 and T2, for all assessed items in the rTMS group. Whereas there were significant improvements between T0 and T1, and between T0 and T2, for the BBS and 10mWT in the control group. TUG (-4.87±5.05 vs. -0.50±2.97 seconds) and ABC score (8.10±8.33 vs. 0.16±0.97) were observed significant differences in comparison of the changes from T0 to T1 between the two group. BBS score (4.40±3.66 vs. 1.88±3.14), TUG (-4.87±4.56 vs. -0.62±2.96 seconds) and ABC score (8.22±7.70 vs. -0.09±0.86) differed significantly from T0 to T2 between the two groups. Conclusion Our findings suggest that low-frequency cerebellar rTMS is helpful for improving balance in patients with cerebral infarction, and maybe a beneficial treatment for these patients.

A culture of the Leptospira species and the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) are considered as the reference standard for the diagnosis of leptospirosis, but both tests are imperfect for early diagnosis. We describe 4 patients diagnosed with leptospirosis using nested polymerase chain reaction (N-PCR) that targeted the 16S rRNA gene and the passive hemagglutination assay (PHA). In our 4 cases, Leptospira DNA in the urine, plasma, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), was detected by N-PCR in the early phase of leptospirosis, except in the sample from the buffy coat. Especially, case 3 showed that N-PCR with the urine and CSF was positive 8 days after symptom onset, but not for the plasma or buffy coat. We report 4 cases of leptospirosis that were diagnosed by N-PCR that targeted the 16S rRNA gene with urine, plasma, or CSF, but not the buffy coat. Three were cured by doxycycline but the case 4 was fatal. Detection of Leptospira DNA by PCR from the urine and CSF, in addition to plasma, may be helpful to confirm the diagnosis.

Chikungunya infection is caused by an arbovirus transmitted by the Aedes mosquito. A 19-year-old man who had traveled to the Republic of Surinam to perform volunteer work complained of a fever, arthralgia, articular stiffness, and a skin rash on both the arm and trunk. Chikungunya fever was diagnosed using a Chikungunya virus specific IgM antibody in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using blood samples obtained during follow-up visits. In this report, we describe a case of imported Chikungunya fever that presented with arthralgia and a skin rash, with islands of normal skin, that occurred following travel to Surinam, South America.
Aedes ; Arboviruses ; Arm ; Arthralgia ; Chikungunya virus* ; Culicidae ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Islands ; Skin ; South America* ; Suriname* ; Volunteers ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Hydronephrosis is found about 30% of children with urinary tract infection (UTI). It can be caused by various conditions, although most childhood hydronephrosis is congenital. This study was performed to investigate the relationship between febrile UTI and hydronephrosis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 183 patients diagnosed as UTI between January 2007 and May 2009 at Korea University Guro Hospital. Inclusion criteria were as followings; 1) fever more than 37.5degrees C measured in the axilla , 2) positive urine culture, 3) no history of urinary tract anomaly on antenatal sonography and urinary tract infection. We classified the enrolled children into two groups of patients with hydronephrosis (HN) and those without hydronephrosis (NHN). RESULTS: The 80 patients were HN and 103 patients NHN. Hydronephrosis was found in 58 patients with left kidney, 8 right and 14 both kidneys. Most of hydronephrosis were of low grade. Compared with NHN group, initial renal cortical defects on DMSA scan significantly increased in HN group (HN 37.5%, NHN 16.5%, P < 0.05). The incidence of VUR was not different between the two groups (HN 22%, NHN 12.1%). White blood cell counts and C-reactive protein were not different between the two groups. Follow-up DMSA scan (about 6 months later after UTI) showed no difference of renal scarring in both two groups. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that hydronephrosis in febrile UTI patients is clinically useful for detecting renal cortical defects, but is not associated with follow-up renal scar.
Axilla ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child ; Cicatrix ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Retrospective Studies ; Succimer ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections

The original version of this article contained an error in Methods section under Developing Survey Instruments. The publisher would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused.
Jeollabuk-do* ; Methods*

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to analyze visitors' food needs and identify the Push-Pull factor in Jeonju Hanok Village. METHODS: A questionnaire was developed based on previous research to survey Korean adults who visited Jeonju city. A total of 580 questionnaires were used for the analysis. RESULTS: Most of the subjects who visited Jeonju Hanok Village had food purchase experiences in Jeonju Hanok Village (96.4%). ‘Traditional Korean food (26.5%)’ was the most purchased food, followed by ‘foreign food (25.8%)’ and ‘Korean food combined with foreign food (16.8%)’. Satisfaction of food purchases (3.35 points) was higher than average. The primary reason for satisfaction was ‘the food is delicious (23.0%)’, and the reason for dissatisfaction was ‘the food is expensive (48.1%)’. In the push and pull factor analysis for identifying visit motivation, ‘local food seeking’, ‘experience seeking’, ‘relaxation seeking’, and ‘friendship seeking’ were push factors while ‘traditional culture’, ‘facility convenience’, ‘experience activity’, and ‘food experience’ were pull factors. There was a significant correlation between the push and pull factors. Regression analysis showed that all push factors influenced satisfaction. However, among pull factors, only ‘food experience’ and ‘traditional culture’ influenced satisfaction. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study indicates that food-related factors are destination characteristics (Pull factor) influencing intrinsic visit motivation (Push factor) and satisfaction. It is necessary to develop various food tourism products to satisfy visitors' needs and continuous visits in Jeonju Hanok Village. This study suggests the importance of research on food factors and provides useful basic data to establish positioning strategies for food cultural development in Jeonju Hanok Village.
Adult ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do* ; Motivation

Autoimmune thyroid disease associated with Moyamoya syndrome has mostly been reported as Graves' disease, and not as Hashimoto's thyroiditis. We report a case of a 70-year-old man with right posterior cerebral artery territorial infarction and bilateral distal internal carotid artery occlusion, which suggests Moyamoya syndrome, but who was diagnosed as Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Aged ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Graves Disease ; Humans ; Infarction ; Moyamoya Disease ; Posterior Cerebral Artery ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis