BACKGROUND: There are two kinds of mechanism for laser therapy according to selectie photothermolysis. Selective photothermolysis means that a chromophore can be selectively dei, stroyed with a laser of n appropriate wavelength and of a short pulse duration that is shortor than the thermal relaxation time of the chromophore. It is supposed that the side effects of the continuous wave laser, in which selective photothermolysis does not exist occur more often than when a pulsed wave laser is used. OBJECTIVE: We compar.d the side effects of flashlamp-pumped pulsed tunable dye laser(SPTL), whose treatment is baseal on selective photothermolysis, with those of copper vapor laser(CVL , which is a quasi-continuous thermal laser. METHODS: The laser cl arts of 498 patients with SPTL treatment and 485 patients with CVL, treatment in Asan Medical Center from 1989 to 1994 were examined, retrospectively. RESULTS: 1) Among 498 patients, with SPTL treatment, we observed various side effects in 47(9.4%). The incidences of individial side effects are as follows, hyperpigmentation in 6.2%(31), vesicl formation in 1.6% (8), surface texture change in 0.8% (4), Hypopigmentation in 0.6% (3), scar format,ion in 0.2% (1). 2) After CVL treatment, side effects occurred in 30(6.2%) among 485 patient.. Hyperpigmentation in 3.1%(15), vesicle formation in 2.5%(12), surface texture change in 0.2%(1), hypopigmentation in 0.2%(1), and scar formation in 0.1%(1) were observed. CONCLUSION: The total incidence of side effect.s after CVL treatment is not statistically different, from that after SPTL treatment, which contradicts the previous theory.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Cicatrix ; Copper* ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hypopigmentation ; Incidence ; Laser Therapy ; Lasers, Dye* ; Lasers, Gas* ; Relaxation ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell*

PURPOSE: A lateral thoracodorsal fasciocutaneous flap (LTFF) is a local fasciocutaneous flap that has been used in breast reconstructions since the 1980s. Although the LTFF is a wellstudied reconstruction procedure after radical surgery in Western countries, there is no report in Korea. By introducing the LTFF procedure, we suggest an easy reconstruction technique that can be performed by the breast surgeon directly. METHODS: Patients with lateral breast cancer and redundant lateral thoracic region might be candidates for this procedure. The flap consists of the lateral and dorsal extensions of the inframammarian fold as well as an extended line from the anterior axillary line. A quadrantectomy is performed through a planned skin incision, and an axillary lymph node dissection can be performed simultaneously if the sentinel lymph node is positive. The skin and subcutaneous fat with the fascia of the serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi muscle should be dissected carefully. A wedge-shaped flap can be acquired successfully. The lateral breast defect is then reconstructed by a rotation of the flap. The axis of the flap is drawn following the inframammarian fold so that the final scar would be under the brassiere line. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were treated with the LTFF after breast conserving surgery. All tumors were located in lateral breast regions. Seroma occurred in three and partial fat necrosis and partial flap necrosis were observed in each one. The cosmetic result based on four-point scoring system of breast cosmesis showed excellent in seventeen and good in two. CONCLUSION: Despite its long scar line, with appropriate patient selection, a LTFF might be a useful method for breast reconstructions.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Cicatrix ; Fascia ; Fat Necrosis ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Mammaplasty* ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Necrosis ; Patient Selection ; Seroma ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Superficial Back Muscles

Background/Aims: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can induce immune-related adverse events, including endocrine dysfunctions, which can have serious consequences on patient health and quality of life. The clinical course and characteristics of immune-related hypophysitis (irH) are not well established. This study aimed to analyze the clinical course and characteristics of irH. Methods: This single-center, retrospective study analyzed data from electronic medical records of Asan Medical Center, spanning January 2017 through June 2021. It included adult patients with solid tumors who underwent thyroid and adrenal function tests, along with gonadotropin and/or growth hormone evaluations, following the initiation of ICI treatment within the same period. The study explored the clinical characteristics of ICI-treated patients with and without irH, the incidence of irH, the time to irH onset, and the associated hormonal changes. Results: Twenty-one patients were included in this analysis. Clinical characteristics did not differ significantly between the irH (n = 13) and non-irH (n = 8) groups. Deficiency rates in the irH group were 23.1% for thyroid-stimulating hormone (n = 3), 76.9% for adrenocorticotropic hormone (n = 10), 61.5% for gonadotropin (n = 8), and 15.4% for growth hormone (n = 2). The overall incidence was 0.9 per person-year, with 6-month and 1-year cumulative incidences of 38.8% and 57.1%, respectively. The median time from ICI initiation to irH diagnosis was 7.7 months. Time to levothyroxine replacement was shorter in the irH group. Conclusions The findings provide evidence that could facilitate the prediction of ICI-induced irH based on clinical course and characteristics.

Background/Aims: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can induce immune-related adverse events, including endocrine dysfunctions, which can have serious consequences on patient health and quality of life. The clinical course and characteristics of immune-related hypophysitis (irH) are not well established. This study aimed to analyze the clinical course and characteristics of irH. Methods: This single-center, retrospective study analyzed data from electronic medical records of Asan Medical Center, spanning January 2017 through June 2021. It included adult patients with solid tumors who underwent thyroid and adrenal function tests, along with gonadotropin and/or growth hormone evaluations, following the initiation of ICI treatment within the same period. The study explored the clinical characteristics of ICI-treated patients with and without irH, the incidence of irH, the time to irH onset, and the associated hormonal changes. Results: Twenty-one patients were included in this analysis. Clinical characteristics did not differ significantly between the irH (n = 13) and non-irH (n = 8) groups. Deficiency rates in the irH group were 23.1% for thyroid-stimulating hormone (n = 3), 76.9% for adrenocorticotropic hormone (n = 10), 61.5% for gonadotropin (n = 8), and 15.4% for growth hormone (n = 2). The overall incidence was 0.9 per person-year, with 6-month and 1-year cumulative incidences of 38.8% and 57.1%, respectively. The median time from ICI initiation to irH diagnosis was 7.7 months. Time to levothyroxine replacement was shorter in the irH group. Conclusions The findings provide evidence that could facilitate the prediction of ICI-induced irH based on clinical course and characteristics.

Background/Aims: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can induce immune-related adverse events, including endocrine dysfunctions, which can have serious consequences on patient health and quality of life. The clinical course and characteristics of immune-related hypophysitis (irH) are not well established. This study aimed to analyze the clinical course and characteristics of irH. Methods: This single-center, retrospective study analyzed data from electronic medical records of Asan Medical Center, spanning January 2017 through June 2021. It included adult patients with solid tumors who underwent thyroid and adrenal function tests, along with gonadotropin and/or growth hormone evaluations, following the initiation of ICI treatment within the same period. The study explored the clinical characteristics of ICI-treated patients with and without irH, the incidence of irH, the time to irH onset, and the associated hormonal changes. Results: Twenty-one patients were included in this analysis. Clinical characteristics did not differ significantly between the irH (n = 13) and non-irH (n = 8) groups. Deficiency rates in the irH group were 23.1% for thyroid-stimulating hormone (n = 3), 76.9% for adrenocorticotropic hormone (n = 10), 61.5% for gonadotropin (n = 8), and 15.4% for growth hormone (n = 2). The overall incidence was 0.9 per person-year, with 6-month and 1-year cumulative incidences of 38.8% and 57.1%, respectively. The median time from ICI initiation to irH diagnosis was 7.7 months. Time to levothyroxine replacement was shorter in the irH group. Conclusions The findings provide evidence that could facilitate the prediction of ICI-induced irH based on clinical course and characteristics.

Background/Aims: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can induce immune-related adverse events, including endocrine dysfunctions, which can have serious consequences on patient health and quality of life. The clinical course and characteristics of immune-related hypophysitis (irH) are not well established. This study aimed to analyze the clinical course and characteristics of irH. Methods: This single-center, retrospective study analyzed data from electronic medical records of Asan Medical Center, spanning January 2017 through June 2021. It included adult patients with solid tumors who underwent thyroid and adrenal function tests, along with gonadotropin and/or growth hormone evaluations, following the initiation of ICI treatment within the same period. The study explored the clinical characteristics of ICI-treated patients with and without irH, the incidence of irH, the time to irH onset, and the associated hormonal changes. Results: Twenty-one patients were included in this analysis. Clinical characteristics did not differ significantly between the irH (n = 13) and non-irH (n = 8) groups. Deficiency rates in the irH group were 23.1% for thyroid-stimulating hormone (n = 3), 76.9% for adrenocorticotropic hormone (n = 10), 61.5% for gonadotropin (n = 8), and 15.4% for growth hormone (n = 2). The overall incidence was 0.9 per person-year, with 6-month and 1-year cumulative incidences of 38.8% and 57.1%, respectively. The median time from ICI initiation to irH diagnosis was 7.7 months. Time to levothyroxine replacement was shorter in the irH group. Conclusions The findings provide evidence that could facilitate the prediction of ICI-induced irH based on clinical course and characteristics.

Human is infected by third stage filariform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis which is a soil-transmitted nematode. Rhabditiform larvae passed in feces can transform into infectious filariform larvae either directly or after a free living phase of development. Most infected patients may be asymptomatic or have mild cutaneous symptoms or induces non-specific complaints such as moderate abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea. However, in immunocompromised hosts, the parasite is augmented by autoinfection, resulting in hyperinfection and can disseminate widely and can be fatal. We report a case of strongyloidiasis associated with intestinal obstruction in a patient with alcoholic liver disease.
Abdominal Pain ; Alcoholics* ; Diarrhea ; Feces ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Intestinal Obstruction* ; Larva ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic* ; Nausea ; Parasites ; Strongyloides stercoralis ; Strongyloidiasis*

Human is infected by third stage filariform larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis which is a soil-transmitted nematode. Rhabditiform larvae passed in feces can transform into infectious filariform larvae either directly or after a free living phase of development. Most infected patients may be asymptomatic or have mild cutaneous symptoms or induces non-specific complaints such as moderate abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea. However, in immunocompromised hosts, the parasite is augmented by autoinfection, resulting in hyperinfection and can disseminate widely and can be fatal. We report a case of strongyloidiasis associated with intestinal obstruction in a patient with alcoholic liver disease.
Abdominal Pain ; Alcoholics* ; Diarrhea ; Feces ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Intestinal Obstruction* ; Larva ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic* ; Nausea ; Parasites ; Strongyloides stercoralis ; Strongyloidiasis*

No abstract available.
Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Leiomyosarcoma*