No abstract available.
Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule*

No abstract available.
Cutaneous Fistula ; Fistula*

No abstract available.
Compartment Syndromes*

BACKGROUND: Regular blood donation can lead to iron deficiency. Serum ferritin is sensitive indicator of body iron depletion. The aim of this study is to evaluate serum ferritin reagents using the turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA) and to establish a reference range in first time blood donors in Korea. METHODS: The study was prospectively conducted, between Feb. 2011 and Apr. 2011, on 120 male and 120 female blood donors at five blood centers. Serum ferritin was determined by TIA using two brands of reagents (Beckman Coulter Inc., USA; HBi, South Korea) and two automated chemistry analyzers (AU640, Beckman Coulter Inc.; Hitachi7180, Hitachi High-Technologies Corp., Japan). Precision, linearity, limit of detection, analytical measurement range and correlation with chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) were evaluated. A reference range for serum ferritin in first time donors was established. RESULTS: The coefficients of variation of precision were less than 4%. Linearity was observed up to 312.7~450 microg/L depending on which reagent used. Both reagents had good correlation with CLIA results. Serum ferritin levels for first time donors showed left skewed distribution. The reference ranges for males and females were 34.1~385.9 microg/L and 6.8~121 microg/L using Beckman Coulter (AU) reagent, and 18.7~271.3 microg/L and 4~83.7 microg/L using HBi (AU) reagent, and 15.2~274.7 microg/L and 6~84 microg/L using HBi (Hitachi) reagent. CONCLUSION: A reference range for serum ferritin in first time donors in Korea was established using automated chemistry analyzers with inexpensive TIA reagents.
Blood Donors ; Female ; Ferritins ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Indicators and Reagents ; Iron ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Reference Values ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients with underlying cardiovascular or respiratory diseases are more susceptible to anesthesiologic risks or serious complications following laparoscopic operations. We evaluated the safety of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy in elderly patients to compensate for the lack of Korean data on the subject in the field of urology. METHODS: From March 2003 and March 2009, 73 patients with localized renal cell cancer underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. They were divided into two groups according to age; 75 years or older (elderly group, n=21) and under 75 years (young group, n=52). Operative parameters as well as oncological outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age was 77.7+/-2.5 years for the elderly group and 55.9+/-10.5 years for the young group. No significant differences existed between the groups in terms of mean operative time, intraoperative blood loss, complications, and hospital stay. However, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, co-morbidities (p<0.05), and rate of transfusion (p<0.05) were significantly higher in the elderly group. In overall analyses, we conclude that in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical nephrectomy, close monitoring of hemoglobin level as well as intraoperative transfusion for maintenance of hemoglobin level at 10 mg/L or higher is necessary in elderly patients to achieve adequate circulation. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy can be considered a safe and effective procedure for most elderly patients.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Nephrectomy ; Operative Time ; Urology

Background: and Purpose This study aimed to determine the ability of deep learning using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to diagnose transient global amnesia (TGA) based on electroencephalography (EEG) data, and to differentiate between patients with recurrent TGA events and those with a single TGA event. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled newly diagnosed patients with TGA and healthy controls. All patients with TGA and the healthy controls underwent EEG. The EEG signals were converted into images using time-frequency analysis with short-time Fourier transforms. We employed two CNN models (AlexNet and VGG19) to classify the patients with TGA and the healthy controls, and for further classification of patients with recurrent TGA events and those with a single TGA event. Results: We enrolled 171 patients with TGA and 68 healthy controls. The accuracy and area under the curve (AUC) of the AlexNet and VGG19 models in classifying patients with TGA and healthy controls were 70.4% and 71.8%, and 0.718 and 0.743, respectively. In addition, the accuracy and AUC of the AlexNet and VGG19 models in classifying patients with recurrent TGA events and those with a single TGA event were 71.1% and 88.4%, and 0.773 and 0.873, respectively. Conclusions We have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of deep learning in diagnosing TGA based on EEG data, and used two different CNN models to distinguish between patients with recurrent TGA events and those with a single TGA event.

Of the drugs developed to prevent and treat osteoporosis, bisphosphonate has played a very important role in preventing osteoporotic fractures. However, case reports describing atypical femoral fractures in patients using long-term bisphosphonates have emerged. The majority of atypical femur fractures occurs in the lateral aspect of the subtrochanteric or femur diaphysis, which is explained by accumulation of tensile stress in these areas. Although the superior cortex of the femur neck withstands maximum tensile stress, to our knowledge, there have been only two reports (three cases) of atypical femoral neck fracture. In addition, none of those case reports revealed detailed pathology related to suppressed bone turnover rate. We encountered an incomplete femoral neck fracture and diagnosed it as “atypical” on the basis of the patient’s lack of trauma and medication history and pathological findings. For patients with groin pain, minimal or no trauma, and a history of long-term bisphosphonate use, an atypical femoral neck fracture should be considered.

Lipoma is the most common benign mesenchymal neoplasm composed of mature fat. Although lipoma can occur in any part of the body, it is infrequently found in the oral cavity. Especially, lipoma of the tongue is rare and there have been no previous reports of this in the Korean dermatology literature. Lingual lipoma, which accounts for 0.3% of all tongue neoplasm, is typically described as well-circumscribed, submucosal mass and it is located on the lateral border of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue surface. We herein report on a rare case of lipoma of the tongue that occurred in a 77-year old male patient.
Dermatology ; Humans ; Lipoma ; Male ; Mouth ; Tongue ; Tongue Neoplasms

A 44-year-old man had been admitted for dyspnea on exertion and abdominal distension. The echocardiography revealed abnormal mass in right atrium and tricuspid valve stenosis with right ventricular obliteration. The operation was performed with mass removal, enlargement of tricuspid valve opening, and right ventricular endocardiectomy. And then, atrial septal defect was made due to inadequate right ventricular volume. The patient's symptom was improved and he discharged without events. The endomyocardial fibrosis was diagnosed with microscopic examination. Eighteen months later, the patient was readmitted due to aggravated dyspnea and cyanosis. The right ventricular obliteration was progressed and pulmonary blood flow was severely decreased in follow up echocardiography. Palliative bidirectional cavo-pulmonary shunt was performed due to functional single ventricle. The dyspnea and cyanosis was markedly improved. Bidirectional cavo-pulmonary shunt for advanced and isolated right ventricular endomyocardial fibrosis provided effective palliation at early postoperative period, However, long-term follow up is mandatory.
Adult ; Cyanosis ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Endomyocardial Fibrosis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fontan Procedure* ; Heart Atria ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Humans ; Postoperative Period ; Tricuspid Valve ; Tricuspid Valve Stenosis

BACKGROUND: Diphencyclopropenone (DPCP) has recently been reported to be a potent contact sensitizer in the treatment of alopecia areata. However, the concentration for sensitization and optimal treatment method has not been standardized. In addition, highly variable results of DPCP use have been reported to date. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to find the optimal concentration for sensitization and to evaluate efficacy, prognostic factors and side effects of DPCP in the treatment of AA. METHODS: A total of 33 healthy people were enrolled in an open-label clinical trial to ascertain the concentration of DPCP needed for sensitization. The patients were sensitized with 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% of DPCP on a 2 cm2 area of each extremity (both arms and legs). We also reviewed the medical records of 48 alopecia areata patients who had been treated with DPCP. We evaluated both therapeutic efficacy and prognostic factors influencing the therapeutic effect of DPCP immunotherapy. RESULTS: Sensitization of 1.0% DPCP in 91% of patients. This concentration showed a higher sensitization rate than 0.5% DPCP, but a lower irritation rate than 1.5% DPCP. 56.3% (27/48) of patients showed terminal hair growth and 33.3% (16/48) completely responded with a cosmetically-acceptable result. The prognostic factor which influenced the result of therapy was the extent of alopecia areata. CONCLUSION: Topical DPCP treatment for alopecia is quite effective and well-tolerated. This therapy also provides safe therapeutic benefits if it is carried out with the correct sensitization concentration and treatment procedure.
Alopecia Areata* ; Alopecia* ; Arm ; Extremities ; Hair ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Medical Records