No abstract available.

A prominent mandibular angle is considered to be unattractive in the Orient. With recent increase of angle reduction via intraoral approach, it also has risks of injuries on the surrounding structures, especially vessels and nerve. We herein describe a simple method using intravenous tube rubber for prevention of bleeding in mandible angle ostectomy. After elevation of the periosteum, an intravenous tube rubber sutured with 2-0 nylon on one or both side was positioned deeply along the inferior border of mandible, and planned ostectomy was performed. The rubber was removed easily by pulling out the string. We experienced 21 cases of the mandible angle ostectomy using intravenous tube rubber from November 2008 to June 2009 and found no major complications. Intravenous tube rubber can cheaply and easily be obtained in the hospital. During ostectomy, the rubber protects the facial vessels and nerve from saw blade, and provides better visual field. Therefore, intravenous tube protection of facial vessel is a simple method to prevent massive bleeding or nerve injury in mandibular angle ostectomy.

This study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of rice bran oil (RBO) on amyloid β protein (Aβ) (25-35)-induced memory impairment and brain damage in an ICR mouse model. Memory impairment was produced by intracerebroventricular microinjection of 15 nmol Aβ (25-35) and assessed using the passive avoidance test. Treatment with RBO at 0.1, 0.5, or 1 mL/kg (p.o. daily for 8 days) protected against Aβ (25-35)-induced memory impairment. Furthermore, Aβ (25-35)-induced decreases in glutathione and increases in lipid peroxidation and cholinesterase activity in brain tissue were inhibited by RBO, and Aβ (25-35)-induced increases of phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and inflammatory factors, and changes in the levels of apoptosis-related proteins were significantly inhibited by RBO. Furthermore, Aβ (25-35) suppressed the PI3K/Akt pathway and the phosphorylation of CREB, but increased phosphorylation of tau (ptau) in mice brain; these effects were significantly inhibited by administration of RBO. These results suggest that RBO inhibits Aβ (25-35)-induced memory impairment by inducing anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects, promoting PI3K/Akt/CREB signaling, and thus, inhibiting p-tau formation.

Background: Treatment options for pseudogynecomastia are limited, and the demand for noninvasive breast fat reduction is increasing. Objective: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of a cold-induced lipolysis device for treating pseudogynecomastia. Methods: In this 16-week prospective trial, a total of 15 male patients with pseudogynecomastia were treated twice with cryolipolysis. The primary endpoint was a change in the chest circumference from baseline at posttreatment week 8. Secondary endpoints were changes in body weight, fat thickness assessed using ultrasonography, independent evaluator- and patient-rated improvement, and Simon’s gynecomastia class (SGC) grading. Results: The primary assessment, a reduction of 3.05 cm in the mean chest circumference at 8 weeks post-treatment compared to baseline, was statistically significant. The treatment effect was cumulative, with a steady decrease in chest circumference and fat thickness over the 16-week study period. The mean pain score immediately after the first session of treatment was 2.0±1.36, based on a scale of 0~10, with a score of 10 being the worst pain ever experienced. The pain decreased substantially after the end of the procedure. Conclusion Cryolipolysis was demonstrated to be an effective and safe option for reducing breast fat in pseudogynecomastia. Male with mild to moderate breast enlargement without skin excess can be ideal candidates.

Severe sepsis and septic shock are the main causes of death in critically ill patients. Early detection and appropriate treatment according to guidelines are crucial for achieving favorable outcomes. Endotoxin is considered to be a main element in the pathogenic induction of gram-negative bacterial sepsis. Polymyxin B hemoperfusion can remove endotoxin and is reported to improve clinical outcomes in patients with intra-abdominal septic shock, but its clinical efficacy for pneumonic septic shock remains unclear. Here, we report a case of a 51-year-old man with pneumonic septic shock caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, who recovered through polymyxin B hemoperfusion.
Cause of Death ; Critical Illness ; Gram-Negative Bacteria* ; Hemoperfusion* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polymyxin B* ; Polymyxins* ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Sepsis ; Shock, Septic*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of spiral CT in predicting the depth of tumor invasion in patients with gastric cancer by comparing with histopathological finding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied spiral CT scans of forty-eight patients, in whom gastric cancer was proven by gastrofibroscopic biopsy and surgery. After distending the stomach with 400ml tap water or effervescent granules, 100ml of contrast media was given intravenously at a rate of 3ml/sec. CT scanning was started at 45 sec after administration of the contrast material. Gastric tumors were subdivided into five types according to enhancing pattern from the inner layer of gastric wall to the outer layer. These pattern were correlated with histopathologic results. RESULT: The tumor masses were detected on CT scan in 10(77%) of 13 patients with early gastric cancer, while, the tumor masses were seen on CT scan in all patients with advanced gastric cancer. Of 9 patients with type 1 or type 2 enhancing pattern, early gastric cancer(T1) were proven in 7 patients(78%), serosal invasion (T3) in 2 patients(22%). In contrast, among 29 patients with type 4 and type 5, 22 patients(76%) were proven as serosal invasion(T3). Of 7 patients with type 3, 3 patients(43%) were proven as serosal invasion(T3), three(43%) as subserosal invasion(T2), one as early gastric cancer(T1). CONCLUSION: Analysis of morphological enhancing pattern on spiral CT is useful in predicting the depth of tumor invasion in patients with gastric cancer.
Biopsy ; Contrast Media ; Humans ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Water

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There have been a few national population-based epidemiological studies of myasthenia gravis (MG) with wide variation of incidence and prevalence rates worldwide. Herein we report the first nationwide population-based epidemiological study of MG in Korea. METHODS: We attempted to estimate the incidence and prevalence rates of MG using the Korean National Health Insurance claims database for 2010 to 2013. Cases with MG were defined as those having claim records with a principal diagnosis of MG and the prescription of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors or immunosuppressive agents including corticosteroids and azathioprine within 2 years after the diagnosis. The year 2010 was set as a washout period, such that patients were defined as incident cases if their first records of MG were observed in 2011. RESULTS: In 2011 there were 1,236 incident cases, and the standardized incidence rate was 2.44 per 100,000 person-years. The standardized prevalence rates were 9.67 and 10.66 per 100,000 persons in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The incidence and prevalence rates peaked in the elderly population aged 60 to 69 years for both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the largest national population-based epidemiological studies of MG, and it has confirmed the high incidence and prevalence rates of MG in the elderly population of South Korea.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Aged ; Azathioprine ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Incidence* ; Korea* ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; National Health Programs* ; Prescriptions ; Prevalence*

Objectives: The diagnosis of hypersomnia may be changed by the repeated multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). We investigated the long-term reliability of MSLT in the diagnosis of narcolepsy type 1(NT1) and 2 (NT2). Methods: We reviewed the data of patients with NT1 and NT2 who underwent MSLT at least twice between 2008 and 2020. The clinical information and polysomnography/MSLT data were thoroughly assessed, and two sleep experts evaluated the consistency and reliability of diagnosis independently. Results: Eighty patients (38 with NT1 and 42 with NT2 as a final diagnosis) were included in this study. Of the 80 patients, 20 (nine with NT1 and 11 with NT2) underwent the 3rd MSLT. No significant differences were found in the sleep data and Epworth Sleepiness Scale at baseline. During the 2nd MSLT, 18.4% (n=7) patients with NT1 and 47.6% (n=20) patients with NT2 did not satisfy the diagnosis of narcolepsy. At the 3rd MSLT, six out of nine patients with NT1 and seven of 11 patients with NT2 were not suitable for narcolepsy. Two of the initial NT1 (5.2%) and 10 of the initial NT2 (23.8%) patients were found to be normal. Three patients who were confirmed to have NT1 through consecutive MSLTs had significantly shorter sleep latency and more number of sleep-onset rapid eye movements than the other patients. Conclusions The reliability of MSLT were not robust in the diagnosis of NT1 and NT2 in this long-term follow-up study. The MSLT results should be interpreted with careful consideration based on elaborate preparations.