PURPOSE: To study the clinical application of low-dose unenhanced computed tomography with iterative reconstruction technique (LDCT-IR) on renal colic in the emergency department. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, single-blinded, randomized, and non-inferiority study. From March 2014 to August 2015, 112 patients with renal colic were included, and were randomized to either LDCT-IR (n=46) or standard-dose unenhanced CT (SDCT) (n=66) groups. The accuracy of urolithiasis diagnosis was the primary endpoint of this study. Radiation dose, size and location of the stone, hydronephrosis, other diseases except urolithiasis, and results of treatment were analyzed between the two groups. RESULTS: The average effective dose radiation of SDCT was approximately four times higher than that of LDCT-IR (6.52 mSv vs. 1.63 mSv, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the accuracy of ureteral stone diagnosis between the two groups (LDCT-IR group: 96.97% vs. SDCT group: 98.96%, p=0.392). No significant difference was observed regarding the size and location of a stone, hydronephrosis, and diagnosis of other diseases, except urolithiasis. False negative results were found in two LDCT-IR patients and in one SDCT patient. In these patients, stones were misread as vascular calcification, and were difficult to diagnose because evidence of hydronephrosis and ureteral dilatation was not found. CONCLUSION: LDCT-IR, as a first-line imaging test, was non-inferior to SDCT with respect to diagnosis of ureter stones, and was clinically available for the evaluation of renal colic.
Diagnosis* ; Dilatation ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Colic ; Ureter* ; Urolithiasis ; Vascular Calcification

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to review the clinical course after the correction of noncomplicated ventricular septal defect and to analyze the morbidity and risk factors of postoperative complications and evaluate residual defect during the follow-up period. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From September 1994 to June 1998 24 patients(median age 10 months) underwent surgery under the diagnosis of ventricular septal defect. We made a retrospective review of the clinical records including the operation notes critical care unit records echocardiography results and the follow-up records. RESULT: There was no early mortality nd late mortality. There was no postoperative complete conduction block. Respiratory complication was the most common complication. The body weight age type of ventricular septal defect associated anomalies and operative procedure were not related to the incidence of complications. residual ventricular septal defects aortic valve regurgitation and tricuspid valve regurgitation were insignificant in postoperative hemodynamics, CONCLUSIONS: Correction of the noncomplicated ventricular septal defect was done without mortality and complete heart block. Aggressive preoperative medical treatment and early surgical treatment may decrease postoperative complications. Postoperative residual shunt and tricuspid regurgitation were not problematic during the follow-up.
Aortic Valve ; Body Weight ; Critical Care ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Block ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Hemodynamics ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common hair loss disease with genetic predisposition among men and women, and it may commence at any age after puberty. It may significantly affect a variety of psychological and social aspects of one's life and the individual's overall quality of life (QoL). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the QoL of AGA patients and discover the factors that can influence the QoL of AGA patients, including previous experience in non-medical hair care, reasons for hospital visits, age, duration, and the severity of AGA. METHODS: A total of 998 male patients with AGA were interviewed, using the Hair Specific Skindex-29 to evaluate the QoL of AGA patients. RESULTS: The results of the Hair Specific Skindex-29 on patients with AGA were as follows: symptom scale: 26.3+/-19.5, function scale: 24.0+/-20.1, emotion scale: 32.1+/-21.8, and global score: 27.3+/-19.1. According to this assessment, QoL was more damaged if the patient had severe alopecia, a longer duration of AGA, younger age, had received previous non-medical hair care, and visited the hospital for AGA treatment. CONCLUSION: This study showed that AGA could harmfully affect the patients' QoL. These findings indicate that dermatologists should address these QoL issues when treating patients with alopecia.
Alopecia ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Hair ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Puberty ; Quality of Life

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which began in December 2019, is still ongoing in Korea, with >9,000 confirmed cases as of March 25, 2020. COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and real-time reverse transcription-PCR is currently the most reliable diagnostic method for COVID-19 around the world. Korean Society for Laboratory Medicine and the Korea Centers for Disease Prevention and Control propose guidelines for diagnosing COVID-19 in clinical laboratories in Korea. These guidelines are based on other related domestic and international guidelines, as well as expert opinions and include the selection of test subjects, selection of specimens, diagnostic methods, interpretation of test results, and biosafety.