PURPOSE: Gallstone formation is one of the most common problems after gastrectomy. This retrospective cohort study used the South Korean nationwide claims database to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of gallstone after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer in South Korea in 2008–2010 were identified. Incidence of gallstone formation 5 years after gastrectomy in males and females, in various age groups, and after different types of gastrectomy was determined. Multivariate logistic regression analysis served to identify gallstone risk factors. RESULTS: Of the 47,752 patients, 2,506 (5.2%) developed gallstone during the 5-year follow-up period. At 12, 24, 36, and 48 months, the cumulative incidences were 1.2%, 2.2%, 3.3%, and 4.3%, respectively. Males had a higher incidence than females (5.8% vs. 4.1%, P < 0.001). Older patients (60–89 years) had a higher incidence than younger patients (30–59 years) (6.1% vs. 4.3%, P < 0.001). Gallstone was most common after total gastrectomy (6.6%), followed by proximal gastrectomy (5.4%), distal gastrectomy (4.8%), and pylorus-preserving distal gastrectomy (4.0%) (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.39), an older age (OR, 1.44), and total gastrectomy (OR, 1.40 vs. distal gastrectomy) were significant independent risk factors for postgastrectomy gallstone. CONCLUSION: The cumulative incidence of gallstone 5 years after gastrectomy for gastric cancer was 5.2%. Male sex, an older age, and total gastrectomy were significant risk factors. More careful monitoring for gallstone may be necessary in patients with such risk factors.
Cholecystectomy ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gallstones* ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms*

In an epidemiological study of metal workers exposed to metalworking fluids(MWF), the prevalence time of evoultion, seasonal occurrence and clinical type of contact dermatitis were investigated. Composinal analyses of MWF with HPLC, dermatological examination and two consecutive questionnaire surveys were conducted. Study population was divided into two groups ; workers contact to cutting oil and workers contact to rust preventive oil. In the analysis of MWF, aliphatic hydrocarbons, having 12-20 carbons, was most common composition(49.04%) of cutting oil otherwise, major contents (90.99%) of the rust preventives oil were aliphatic hydrocarbons composed of 6-9 carbons. The frequency (point prevalence) of contact dermatitis(CD) was 7(12.7 per 100 subjects) in the dermatological examination of 55 workers. As the result of second survey for contact dermatitis, cumulative prevalence of oil working full-time and recent 1 year prevalence in two groups were 28.0, 16.7 and 15.1, 12.5 per 100 subjects. There were no difference in the prevalence of CD by oil, age, oil contact duration. Summer is the most common evolution season in workers exposed to cuttiogs, but not in workers exposed to rust preventive oil. Major clinical type of CD was erythematous papules in both groups. It presents the importance of preventive measures that 51.1% suffer from contact dermatitis had medical care at their own expense, and 47.1% of them felt serious about their contact dermatitis. From the fact that 68.6% think cotton gloves protective apparatus, we emphasize the need for health education.
Carbon ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Health Education ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons ; Male* ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seasons

OBJECTIVES: Many studies have suggested different neurobiological findings and clinical courses in alcoholism. Recently, subtyping in alcohol dependence has become essential to overcome the heterogeneity of patients. Among several criteria of subtypes, Lesch's typology is proposed to integrate biological, social, and psychological factors. This review provides neurobiological findings and treatment-responses of alcohol dependence according to Lesch's typology. METHOD: We searched the international published medical literature using the search terms 'Lesch's typology' and 'alcohol dependence' and using the limits 'human'. RESULTS: We identified 17 studies with subjects of alcohol dependence according to Lesch's typology. CONCLUSION: They indicated that each subtype of Lesch's typology can have specific neurobiological factors and different clinical responses as follows. Lesch's subtype 1 is characterized by severe withdrawal symptoms and associated with elevated glutamate and homocysteine. Lesch's subtype 2 is defined by individuals who drink alcohol as self-medication for anxiety. Their craving has significant positive correlations with prolactin, leptin level, or intake-volume (vasopressin). Lesch's subtype 4 is related to cerebral dysfunction and associated with increased glutamate and left-handedness. Clinical trials showed that naltrexone was effective in Lesch's subtype 3 and 4 patients, while acamprosate was effective in the subtypes 1 and 2.
Alcoholism ; Anxiety ; Glutamic Acid ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Leptin ; Naltrexone ; Population Characteristics ; Prolactin ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; Taurine

PURPOSE: Obesity is associated with a number of medical comorbidities and is considered a risk factor for surgical complications. The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of body habitus including obesity on the surgical outcomes of the Bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) robotic thyroidectomy (RoT) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients. METHODS: The medical records of 456 PTC patients who underwent BABA RoT between January 2011 and December 2012 were reviewed, and 310 women PTC patients who had undergone BABA robotic total thyroidectomy with central lymph node dissection were examined. Body habitus were evaluated by measuring body mass index (BMI), body surface area, and neck circumference. We divided the patients into BMI < 25 kg/m2 and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 groups. Clinicopathological data, surgical outcomes, and postoperative complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Clinicopathological characteristics did not differ between the 2 BMI groups. The creation of working space time (P = 0.210) and other surgical outcomes showed no significant differences between the groups. There were no statistically significant differences between body habitus indexes and postoperative length of hospital stay, number of retrieved central lymph nodes, postoperative thyroglobulin levels, occurrence of hypoparathyoidism, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and wound complication. CONCLUSION: Patient with large body habitus undergoing BABA RoT were not at an increased risk of surgical complications and showed good surgical outcomes. BABA RoT may be a good alternative operative method for PTC patients for whom cosmetic outcome is an important consideration.
Body Mass Index ; Body Surface Area ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Medical Records ; Methods ; Neck ; Obesity ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries ; Risk Factors ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy* ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: Obesity is associated with a number of medical comorbidities and is considered a risk factor for surgical complications. The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of body habitus including obesity on the surgical outcomes of the Bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) robotic thyroidectomy (RoT) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients. METHODS: The medical records of 456 PTC patients who underwent BABA RoT between January 2011 and December 2012 were reviewed, and 310 women PTC patients who had undergone BABA robotic total thyroidectomy with central lymph node dissection were examined. Body habitus were evaluated by measuring body mass index (BMI), body surface area, and neck circumference. We divided the patients into BMI < 25 kg/m2 and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 groups. Clinicopathological data, surgical outcomes, and postoperative complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Clinicopathological characteristics did not differ between the 2 BMI groups. The creation of working space time (P = 0.210) and other surgical outcomes showed no significant differences between the groups. There were no statistically significant differences between body habitus indexes and postoperative length of hospital stay, number of retrieved central lymph nodes, postoperative thyroglobulin levels, occurrence of hypoparathyoidism, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and wound complication. CONCLUSION: Patient with large body habitus undergoing BABA RoT were not at an increased risk of surgical complications and showed good surgical outcomes. BABA RoT may be a good alternative operative method for PTC patients for whom cosmetic outcome is an important consideration.
Body Mass Index ; Body Surface Area ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Medical Records ; Methods ; Neck ; Obesity ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries ; Risk Factors ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy* ; Wounds and Injuries

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore nurses’ experience with caring for COVID-19 patients in a negative pressure room amid the spread of the pandemic. Methods: This study was a qualitative research, and focus group interviews were used to collect data. Three focus groups comprising 19 nurses were interviewed from February 17 to 25, 2021. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim with the consent of the participants. The verbatim transcripts were scrutinized using thematic analysis. Results: Two main themes emerged from the analysis: ‘Struggling in an isolated space’ and ’Limitations of nursing infrastructure and system’. The nurses caring for COVID-19 patients experienced anxiety and fear about the infection, physical exhaustion, emotional burnout, and a sense of duty as a nurse. They also acknowledged the lack of guidelines, increased task and burden, limitations of nursing care, and the demand for improving the limitations of the nursing system. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate that nurses caring for COVID-19 patients encounter physical and emotional problems within the limited healthcare system. The study suggests that comprehensive interventions are needed for nurses. Furthermore, detailed guidelines, strengthening of nursing personnel, and improvements to the nursing system are vital to effectively cope with the pandemic. The government and medical institutions should be aware of the needs of nurses and what they are going through, and make efforts to improve the quality of life of healthcare workers and create a safe healthcare environment.

Purpose: As thyroid cancer patients are experiencing longer disease-free survival periods, evaluating their quality of life after surgery has become crucial. However, studies on this topic have primarily focused on Western populations, leaving a gap in understanding the Korean patient population’s experiences and needs. This study aims to address this gap and provide insights into the quality of life of thyroid cancer patients in Korea. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated the quality of life of Korean thyroid cancer patients who underwent thyroid lobectomy or total thyroidectomy. Patients were surveyed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30, ver. 3.0) during outpatient clinic visits from January to September 2015. The results were analyzed by comparing them to scores of the general population and based on the time elapsed since surgery. This approach allowed for a comprehensive evaluation of the quality-of-life outcomes in this patient population. Results: The study found that thyroidectomy had a notable impact on patients’ role and cognitive functions. Patients also experienced worsened symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, and constipation, which improved over time and returned to normal levels. However, there were no significant changes in other functions and symptoms after surgery. Conclusion The study’s findings showed that thyroidectomy had a relatively minor impact on the functional and symptomatic well-being of patients. Therefore, the results suggest that thyroid surgery may be a safe and effective treatment option for thyroid cancer patients seeking to maintain a good quality of life.

The ultimate goal of periodontal therapy is the regeneration of periodontal tissue and repair of function. For more than a decade there have been many efforts to develop materials and bioactive molecule(such as growth factor and differentiation factors) to promote periodontal wound healing. Among the bioactive molecules, bone morphogenetic protein(BMP) was studied for periodontal wound healing. Since Urist demonstrated that demineralized bone matrix could induce the formation of cartilage and bone in ectopic site, many studies on BMP have been reported. Among those BMPs, it was reported that rhBMP-2 enhanced the healing of bone defects in animal studies and clinical studies. However, its efficacy in periodontal regeneration, especially 1-wall intrabony defects is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of rhBMP-2/ACS on the epithelial migration, gingival connective tissue adhesion, cementum formation, alveolar bone regeneration in intrabony defects of dogs. Four millimeter deep and four millimeter wide 1-wall defects were surgically created in the mesial aspects of the 3rd incisors. The test group received rhBMP-2/ACS with a flap procedure and the control underwent buffer/ACS with a flap procedure. Histologic analysis after 8 weeks of healing revealed the following results: 1. The length of epithelial growth(the distance from alveolar crest to the apical end of JE) was 0.9+/-1.5mm in the control group and 1.2+/-1.4mm in the test group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. 2. The length of connective tissue adhesion was 2.4+/-1.3mm in the control group and 1.2+/-1.1mm in the test group. The control group showed significantly enhanced adhesion(P<0.05). 3. The length of new cementum was 0.9+/-1.0mm in the control group and 1.7+/-0.8mm in the test group. The test group showed significantly enhanced cementum regeneration(P<0.05). 4. The length of new bone height was 1.9+/-0.6mm in the control group and 2.4+/-0.9mm in the test group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. 5. The new bone area was 4.7+/-1.7mm2 in the control group and 8.0+/- 2.0mm2 in the test group. The test group showed significantly enhanced bone formed area(P<0.05). 6. The new bone density was 73.0+/-8.6% in the control group and 66.6+/- 15.3% in the test group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. These results suggest that the use of rhBMP-2 in 1-wall intrabony defects has significant effect on new cementum and new bone formation area, but doesn't have any significant effect on the prevention of junctional epithelium migration and new bone formation height.
Dogs ; Animals

Vessel wall imaging can depict the morphologies of atherosclerotic plaques, arterial walls, and surrounding structures in the intracranial and cervical carotid arteries beyond the simple luminal changes that can be observed with traditional luminal evaluation. Differentiating vulnerable from stable plaques and characterizing atherosclerotic plaques are vital parts of the early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of stroke and the neurological adverse effects of atherosclerosis. Various techniques for vessel wall imaging have been developed and introduced to differentiate and analyze atherosclerotic plaques in the cervical carotid artery. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) is the most important and popular vessel wall imaging technique for directly evaluating the vascular wall and intracranial artery disease. Intracranial artery atherosclerosis, dissection, moyamoya disease, vasculitis, and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome can also be diagnosed and differentiated by using HR-MRI. Here, we review the radiologic features of intracranial artery disease and cervical carotid artery atherosclerosis on HR-MRI and various other vessel wall imaging techniques (e.g., ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and positron emission tomography-computed tomography).
Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Carotid Arteries* ; Early Diagnosis ; Electrons ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Moyamoya Disease ; Phenobarbital ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Stroke ; Ultrasonography ; Vasculitis ; Vasoconstriction

No abstract available.
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*