Background: Because the etiologies of bronchiectasis and related diseases vary significantly among different regions and ethnicities, this study aimed to develop a diagnostic bundle for bronchiectasis in South Korea. Methods: A modified Delphi method was used to develop expert consensus statements on a diagnostic bundle for bronchiectasis in South Korea. Initial statements proposed by a core panel, based on international bronchiectasis guidelines, were discussed in an online meeting and two email surveys by a panel of experts (≥70% agreement). Results: The study involved 21 expert participants, and 30 statements regarding a diagnostic bundle for bronchiectasis were classified as recommended, conditional, or not recommended. The consensus statements of the expert panel were as follows: A standardized diagnostic bundle is useful in clinical practice; diagnostic tests for specific diseases, including immunodeficiency and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, are necessary when clinically suspected; initial diagnostic tests, including sputum microbiology and spirometry, are essential in all patients with bronchiectasis, and patients suspected with rare causes such as primary ciliary dyskinesia should be referred to specialized centers. Conclusion Based on this Delphi survey, expert consensus statements were generated including specific diagnostic, laboratory, microbiological, and pulmonary function tests required to manage patients with bronchiectasis in South Korea.

Background: Nilotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for frontline and 2nd line treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML). This study aimed to confirm the safety and efficacy of nilotinib in routine clinical practice within South Korea. Methods: An open-label, multicenter, single-arm, 12-week observational post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study was conducted on 669 Korean adult patients with Ph + CML from December 24, 2010, to December 23, 2016. The patients received nilotinib treatment in routine clinical practice settings. Safety was evaluated by all types of adverse events (AEs) during the study period, and efficacy was evaluated by the complete hematological response (CHR) and cytogenetic response. Results: During the study period, AEs occurred in 61.3% (410 patients, 973 events), adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in 40.5% (271/669 patients, 559 events), serious AEs in 4.5% (30 patients, 37 events), and serious ADRs in 0.7% (5 patients, 8 events). Furthermore, unexpected AEs occurred at a rate of 6.9% (46 patients, 55 events) and unexpected ADRs at 1.2% (8 patients, 8 events). As for the efficacy results, CHR was achieved in 89.5% (442/494 patients), and minor cytogenetic response or major cytogenetic response was achieved in 85.8% (139/162 patients). Conclusion This PMS study shows consistent results in terms of safety and efficacy compared with previous studies. Nilotinib was well tolerated and efficacious in adult Korean patients with Ph + CML in routine clinical practice settings.

Background: Nine years have passed since the Journal of Bone Metabolism (JBM) was launched as an English journal in 2012; it was finally included in Scopus in January 2019. Therefore, this study aimed to provide evidence of increased international recognition based on journal metrics and reflect on its efforts to be recognized as a top-notch journal. Methods: Databases, such as the Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, Korean Citation Index (KCI), and citation indicators, including the impact factor (IF) and SCImago journal rank (SJR) were reviewed and calculated according to years, and the results were drawn. Furthermore, country-wise contributions and top-cited articles were also investigated. Results: The JBM 2020 IF was 2.17 in the WoS. The 2020 SJR in Scopus was 0.334, with a ranking of 165/219 (75.3%) in the Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism category. The 2020 KCI was 0.42. Of 263 articles, 260 were citable (98.9%), and of 176 original articles, 15 (8.5%) were supported by research grants. The total citation of JBM has increased from 16 in 2014 to 141 in 2020; however, its KCI remained stationary from 0.29 in 2015 to 0.42 in 2020. Conclusions Currently, JBM is increasingly cited by international researchers than Korean researchers, indicating that the journal’s content is valued at an international level. Its inclusion in PubMed Central appears to have increased its international relevance; however, publishing English-only articles may hinder its use domestically. Therefore, efforts should be made to increase citation rates and enhance domestic readership.

Background: Nine years have passed since the Journal of Bone Metabolism (JBM) was launched as an English journal in 2012; it was finally included in Scopus in January 2019. Therefore, this study aimed to provide evidence of increased international recognition based on journal metrics and reflect on its efforts to be recognized as a top-notch journal. Methods: Databases, such as the Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, Korean Citation Index (KCI), and citation indicators, including the impact factor (IF) and SCImago journal rank (SJR) were reviewed and calculated according to years, and the results were drawn. Furthermore, country-wise contributions and top-cited articles were also investigated. Results: The JBM 2020 IF was 2.17 in the WoS. The 2020 SJR in Scopus was 0.334, with a ranking of 165/219 (75.3%) in the Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism category. The 2020 KCI was 0.42. Of 263 articles, 260 were citable (98.9%), and of 176 original articles, 15 (8.5%) were supported by research grants. The total citation of JBM has increased from 16 in 2014 to 141 in 2020; however, its KCI remained stationary from 0.29 in 2015 to 0.42 in 2020. Conclusions Currently, JBM is increasingly cited by international researchers than Korean researchers, indicating that the journal’s content is valued at an international level. Its inclusion in PubMed Central appears to have increased its international relevance; however, publishing English-only articles may hinder its use domestically. Therefore, efforts should be made to increase citation rates and enhance domestic readership.

BACKGROUND: Cut-off values for visceral fat area (VFA) measured by computed tomography (CT) for identifying individuals at risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) have not been clearly established in Korean adults, particularly for large populations. We aimed to identify optimal VFA and waist circumference (WC) cut-off values and compare the ability of VFA and WC to predict the presence of ≥2 metabolic risk factors. METHODS: We included 36,783 subjects aged 19–79 years undergoing abdominal fat CT during regular health checkups between January 2007 and February 2015 in Seoul. The risk factors for MetS except WC were based on the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used to determine the appropriate VFA and WC cut-off values for MetS. RESULTS: VFA was a more significant predictor of metabolic risk factors than WC and body mass index (BMI). The optimal cut-off values for VFA and WC were 134.6 cm2 and 88 cm for men and 91.1 cm2 and 81 cm for women, respectively. We estimated age-specific cut-off values for VFA, WC, and BMI. VFA cut-off values increased with age, particularly among women. CONCLUSION: This large population study proposed the cut-off values for VFA and WC for identifying subjects at risk of MetS among Korean adults. For more accurate diagnosis, different age-specific cut-off values for VFA and WC may be considered.
Abdominal Fat ; Adult* ; Body Mass Index ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat* ; Male ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Risk Factors ; ROC Curve ; Seoul ; Waist Circumference

Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disorder presumed to be caused by increased sebaceous gland secretion, metabolic changes in the cutaneous microflora, and changes in the host immune function. Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is known to increase the blood flow rate without altering the blood pressure, heart rate, or cardiac output, to stabilize hypertonic conditions of the sympathetic nerves, and to affect the endocrine and immune systems. It is used in the differential diagnosis and treatment of autonomic nervous system disorders of the head, neck, and upper limbs. The authors report the first case of successful treatment of a patient with seborrheic dermatitis through repeated SGB trials.
Autonomic Nervous System Diseases ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Head ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Immune System ; Neck ; Nerve Block ; Sebaceous Glands ; Stellate Ganglion* ; Upper Extremity

This case report involves tracheal intubation using i-gel(R) in combination with a lightwand in a patient with a difficult airway, classified as Cormack-Lehane grade 3. I-gel(R) was used during anesthesia induction to properly maintain ventilation. The authors have previously reported successful tracheal intubation on a patient with a difficult airway through the use of i-gel(R) and a fiberoptic bronchoscope. However, if the use of a fiberoptic bronchoscope is not immediately available in a patient with a difficult airway, tracheal intubation may be performed by using i-gel(R) and a lightwand in a patient with difficult airway, allowing the safe induction of anesthesia.
Airway Management ; Anesthesia ; Bronchoscopes ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Laryngeal Masks ; Transillumination ; Ventilation

BACKGROUND: Lidocaine has been used widely to prevent propofol injection pain. Various methods of administration exist, such as lidocaine premixed with propofol or lidocaine pretreatment using a tourniquet, but it is unclear which method of lidocaine administration is more effective for the prevention of injection pain of propofol LCT/MCT. The purpose of this study was to compare pretreatment of lidocaine with a tourniquet and a premixed injection of lidocaine to prevent injection pain of propofol-LCT/MCT. METHODS: Patients were randomly allocated into the pretreatment group (n = 117) or the premixed group (n = 117). The pretreatment group was pretreated with 2 ml of lidocaine 2%, held with a tourniquet, before propofol-LCT/MCT injection. The premixed group was injected with a premixed solution of propofol-LCT/MCT and 2 ml of lidocaine 2%. To evaluate the incidence and severity of pain, spontaneous verbal expressions of pain, movement of hand, frowning, and moaning were recorded, and the patients were asked to recall their pain with the visual analogue score (VAS) 30 minutes after awakening from anesthesia. RESULTS: Overall, injection pain occurred in 13.7% of the pretreatment group and 15.4% of the premixed group, without any statistical difference (P = 0.71). There was no difference in spontaneous verbal expressions of pain, movement of hand, frowning, and moaning between the two groups. The pain intensity (VAS) also showed no difference between the two groups (P = 0.49). CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment of lidocaine with a tourniquet showed no more benefit to prevent injection pain of propofol LCT/MCT compared to a premixed injection with lidocaine.
Anesthesia ; Emulsions ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lidocaine* ; Methods ; Propofol ; Tourniquets*

BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine extends the duration of nerve block when administered perineurally together with local anesthetics by central and/or peripheral action. In this study, we compared the duration of nerve block between dexmedetomidine and epinephrine as an adjuvant to 1% mepivacaine in infraclavicular brachial plexus block. METHODS: Thirty patients, scheduled for upper limb surgery were assigned randomly to 3 groups of 10 patients each. We performed brachial plexus block using a nerve stimulator. In the control group (group C), patients received 40 ml of 1% mepivacaine. In group E, patients received 40 ml of 1% mepivacaine containing 200 microg of epinephrine as an adjuvant. In group D, patients received 40 ml of 1% mepivacaine containing 1 microg/kg of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant. Sensory block duration, motor block duration, time to sense pain, and onset time were assessed. We also monitored blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation and bispectral index. RESULTS: In group D and group E, sensory block duration, motor block duration and time to sense first pain were prolonged significantly compared to group C. However, there was no significant difference between group D and group E. CONCLUSIONS: Perineural 1 microg/kg of dexmedetomidine similarly prolonged nerve block duration compared to 200 microg of epinephrine, but slowed heart rate. Thus, dexmedetomidine is expected to be a good alternative as an adjuvant to local anesthesia in patients who are cautioned against epinephrine.
Anesthesia, Local ; Anesthetics, Local ; Blood Pressure ; Brachial Plexus* ; Dexmedetomidine* ; Epinephrine* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Mepivacaine* ; Nerve Block ; Oxygen ; Upper Extremity

While it is reasonably well known that certain dental procedures increase the temperature of the tooth's surface, of greater interest is their potential damaging effect on the pulp and tooth-supporting tissues. Previous studies have investigated the responses of the pulp, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone to thermal irritation and the temperature at which thermal damage is initiated. There are also many in vitro studies that have measured the temperature increase of the pulp and tooth-supporting tissues during restorative and endodontic procedures. This review article provides an overview of studies measuring temperature increases in tooth structures during several restorative and endodontic procedures, and proposes clinical guidelines for reducing potential thermal hazards to the pulp and supporting tissues.
Periodontal Ligament ; Root Canal Obturation ; Tooth ; Tooth Preparation ; Ultrasonics