In stroke patients, upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is uncommon compared with lower extremity. Unlike the blood stasis in lower extremity, UEDVT has been developed by secondary cause. We reported a case of stroke patient with repeated UEDVT, presenting superficial venous congestion, who was finally diagnosed with pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The cause of stroke was non-bacterial thromboembolism formed at the mitral valve. Our case shows that unexpected UEDVT should be closely evaluated for higher coagulable status such as a malignancy.

The aim of this study was to investigate time trends in the public awareness of stroke and its predicting factors. The target population was 9,600 community-dwelling adults, aged 19–79 years, in 16 metropolitan cities and provinces in Korea. The survey samples in 2012 and 2014 were selected separately (entirely different sets of subjects) using a proportionate quota sampling method. Information concerning knowledge of stroke and demographics was collected by trained telephone interviewers using random digit dialing. After excluding subjects with a non-response or refusal to answer any question, the analyses included 8,191 subjects in 2012 and 8,127 subjects in 2014. Respondents’ awareness of stroke warning signs (numbness or weakness, difficulty speaking or understanding speech, dizziness, visual impairment, and severe headache) was highest for difficulty speaking or understanding speech (80.9% in 2012 and 86.4% in 2014). There were significant increases in the proportion of respondents understanding the appropriate action (i.e., calling an ambulance) at the time of stroke occurrence (59.6% to 67.1%), and in the proportion aware of the general need for prompt treatment (86.7% to 89.8%). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, older age, higher education level, higher household income, current non-smoking, exposure to stroke-related public relations materials, and experience of stroke education were significantly associated with both high knowledge of stroke warning signs and awareness of the need for prompt treatment. Between 2012 and 2014, the public’s awareness of stroke increased significantly. More specialized interventions, including public relations materials and education, should focus on subgroups who have lower stroke knowledge.
Adult ; Demography ; Dizziness ; Education ; Family Characteristics ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Methods ; Public Relations ; Stroke* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Telephone* ; Vision Disorders

Here we describe two cases of papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential in adolescent boys. One case was a 16-year-old boy with a polypoid mass beside the right ureteral orifice and the other case was a 13-year-old boy with a papillary mass beside the left ureteral orifice. The initial presentation was hematuria in both cases and the bladder mass was detected by ultrasonography. Complete resection of the bladder tumor was performed by using an 11-Fr pediatric resectoscope. Follow-up has been performed with urine analysis, urine cytology, and bladder ultrasonography or cystoscopy every 3 months with no evidence of recurrence.
Adolescent* ; Cystoscopy ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Male ; Recurrence ; Ultrasonography ; Ureter ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

PURPOSE: It is well known that papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has a good prognosis and high incidence in young women. The objective of the study was to review our criteria to select surgical modality and surgical results and to confirm the feasibility of endoscopic thyroidectomy according to the preoperative risk stratification in the treatment of papillary thyroid cancer. METHODS: Between May 2009 and April 2012, 197 patients underwent either a conventional open or an endoscopic thyroidectomy with the preoperative consideration of risk group using clinical parameters of AMES system (patient age, size of tumor, extrathyroid extension, and presence of distant metastasis). A retrospective analysis of the pathologic data according to AMES system after surgery was also conducted. The endoscopic thyroidectomy was performed using the BABA (bilateral axillo-breast approach) method. RESULTS: Based on the method of operation, the low-risk group patients (n=197) were divided into two groups: endoscopic group (n=78) and open group (n=119). Procedure time, postoperative complication rates, and length of hospital stay were tracked, albeit these were not significantly different between the two groups. From the pathologic findings, it was reported that there were no significant differences in tumor size, extrathyroid extension, and metastasis and also in the Off T4 – thyroglobulin level between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic thyroidectomy is a feasible method for the treatment of selected cases of thyroid cancer such as low-risk group according to the appropriate preoperative risk stratification.
Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Length of Stay ; Methods ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy*

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the risk factors and the surgical results for adjacent segment disease after lumbar fusion. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Many studies have been performed about the risk factors for adjacent segment disease, but the findings are still controversial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out on 35 (13 men, 22 women) of 50 patients who underwent lumbar fusion due to adjacent segment disease with a minimum of 2 year follow-up period from July 1999 to July 2006. The differences of the interval to revision (IR) were statistically analyzed by the examining preexisting degenerative change in the adjacent segments on MRI, the number of fused segments, the lumbar lordosis and the sagittal balance. The surgical outcomes of reoperation were assessed by Brodsky's criteria. RESULTS: Junctional stenosis as adjacent segment disease was seen in 21 cases (60%) and instability was seen in 14 cases (40%), including 2 iatrogenic flat backs and 2 cases of lumbar degenerative kyphosis. The average IR was 93 months for the cases that had less than 2 segment fusion (20 cases) and 62 months in those with more than 3 segment fusion (15 cases). As for lumbar lordosis, 25 cases (71%) had a normal range of angle as well as 101 months until the IR and 10 cases (29%) had an abnormal range of angle as well as 64 months until IR. Six cases were beyond the normal range of sagittal balance (17%) and their average IR value was 59 months. Otherwise, the cases with a normal range of sagittal balance had 109 months for the IR. The clinical outcome was excellent in 6 cases (17%) and good in 15 cases (43%). CONCLUSION: To decrease the adjacent segment disease, we should seriously consider the extent of lumbar fusion and we should restore the angle in lumbar lordosis to the physiological range and the sagittal balance during the initial operation.
Animals ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Ethylenes ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Lordosis ; Male ; Reference Values ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with acute interstitial pneumonia who had presented similar clinical patterns from March to June, 2006 and to describe our experience of treatment and to identify risk factors associated with prognosis. METHODS: The clinical characteristics, radiologic and histopathologic findings and response to steroids of 15 patients (non-survival group [n=7] and survival group [control, n=8]) with acute interstitial pneumonia were investigated through the review of medical records. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 26 (range: 3-48) months. Cough, cyanosis and fever were frequent symptoms. The most frequent radiologic findings on admission were pneumomediastium and extensive ground glass opacity. Surgical lung biopsy was performed on 8/15 (53.3%) patients and diffuse alveolar damage was found. Mechanical ventilation was applied for 9/15 (60.0%) patients for 40 (range: 1-99) days. Five patients in survival group received steroid treatment and 7 patients in non-survivial group (P=0.20). One patient in survival group received steroid pulse treatment and 4 patients in non-survival group (P=0.12). Seven patients died all of respiratory failure. The survival rate was 53.4%. CONCLUSION: The patients with acute interstitial pneumonia which occurred on spring 2006 showed high mortality because of rapidly and extensively progressing pulmonary fibrosis and air leakage. Therefore, we should consider surgical lung biopsy and steroid application earlier. We should recognize this acute interstitial pneumonia occurring on spring in domestics and need to investigate the cause and treatment in large scale.
Biopsy ; Child ; Cough ; Cyanosis ; Fever ; Glass ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Mediastinal Emphysema ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Risk Factors ; Steroids ; Survival Rate

Recent global warming trends may have a significant impact on vector-borne viral diseases, possibly affecting vector population dynamics and disease transmission. This study measured levels of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and neutralizing antibodies against Akabane virus (AKAV) and Aino virus (AINV) for Thoroughbred horses in Korea. Blood samples were collected from 989 racehorses in several provinces, between October 2005 and March 2007. Sera were tested using either an HI assay or a virus neutralization test. Approximately half (49.7%; 492/989) of the horses tested were antibody-positive for JEV. The HI titer against JEV was significantly correlated with racehorse age (p < 0.05). Horses with an HI antibody titer of 1: 160 or higher accounted for 3.9% of the animals tested, indicating that vectors transmitting arthropod- borne viruses bit relatively few horses. In contrast, 3.8% (19/497) and 19.5% (97/497) of horse sera collected in March 2007 were positive against AKAV and AINV, respectively. The presence of antibodies against AKAV and AINV may indicate the multiplication of AKAV and AINV in these horses.
Aging ; Animals ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese/*isolation & purification ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests/veterinary ; Horse Diseases/blood/*epidemiology ; Horses ; Korea/epidemiology ; Orthobunyavirus/*isolation & purification ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of Loxoprofen sodium, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on the nocturia in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), not responding to anticholinergics or hypnotics, as well as alpha-blockers and 5 alpha reductase inhibitors, were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 2004 and June 2005, 150 BPH patients with 2 or more episodes of nocturia, despite treatments with anticholinergics or hypnotics, were enrolled in this study. Loxoprofen, 60mg/day, was orally administered prior to sleeping for 2 weeks. The number of episodes of nocturia was assessed before and after treatment according to baseline number of episodes of nocturia, age distribution, prostate volume and previous nocturia treatment. RESULTS: The number of nocturia episodes decreased by at least 1 in 74.7% (112/150) of patients, and decreased by 2 or more, 1 and were unchanged or increased were 48.0, 26.7 and 25.3% of patients, respectively. In baseline nocturia > or =6 group, the nocturia decreased by 1 or more in 85.0%. Treatment-emergent adverse events, including gastric discomfort (12 patients, 8.0%), weak urinary stream (5 patients, 3.3%) and leg edema (2 patients, 1.3%), occurred in 19 of the 150 (12.7%) patients. There were no withdrawals resulting from adverse events. CONCLISIONS: Loxoprofen can be effectively combined as a treatment option for patients with BPH complaining of unresolved nocturia. However, studies on the mechanism of action, long term effectiveness and adverse events of Loxoprofen are necessary.
5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors ; Age Distribution ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; Edema ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Leg ; Nocturia* ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Rivers ; Sodium*

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) causes a mosquitoborne viral zoonosis that is becoming increasingly important to public health in east and south Asia. Although JEV is primarily associated with reproductive failure in swine, JEV infection can cause fever and headache in humans and is associated with aseptic meningitis and encephalitis. The exact mode of transmission, including host range and possible source of viral amplification within livestock, is still not completely clear. This study consisted of a serological survey of JEV infection in goats. A total of 804 goat serum samples were collected from 144 farms in Korea between May 2005 and May 2006. The incidence of positive cases was 12.1% (97 out of 804 goats). The seroprevalence of JEV infection in the 144 farms screened was 31.3% (45/144), indicating that JEV infection is frequent in goat farms in Korea. In addition, three districts of Korea (mainly in the southern region) had a higher seroprevalence of JEV compared to other areas. The results suggest that goats could be monitored epidemiologically as a sentinel animal for JEV transmission in Korea.
Age Factors ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral/blood ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese/*isolation & purification ; Encephalitis, Japanese/epidemiology/*veterinary/virology ; Goat Diseases/*epidemiology/*virology ; Goats ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests/veterinary ; Korea/epidemiology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies