Background: This article presents a comprehensive review of data on the impact of facial palsy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The possible causes and pathophysiological mechanisms of changes in the epidemiology of facial palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic are also discussed. Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 943 patients diagnosed with Bell’s palsy or Ramsay Hunt syndrome. This study compared patient demographics, comorbidities, symptoms, and treatments before the COVID-19 pandemic (from 2017 to 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic, from 2020 to 2022). Results: Following the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been a significant increase in the number of cases of Bell’s palsy, particularly among elderly individuals with diabetes. Bell’s palsy increased after the COVID-19 outbreak, rising from 75.3% in the pre-COVID-19 era to 83.6% after the COVID-19 outbreak. The complete recovery rate decreased from 88.2% to 73.9%, and the rate of recurrence increased from 2.9% to 7.5% in patients with Bell’s palsy.Ramsay Hunt syndrome showed fewer changes in clinical outcomes. Conclusion This study highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation and management of facial palsy, and suggests potential associations with COVID-19.Notably, the observed increase in Bell’s palsy cases among elderly individuals with diabetes emphasizes the impact of the pandemic. Identifying the epidemiological changes in facial palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic has important implications for assessing its etiology and pathological mechanisms of facial palsy disease.

Cypripedium japonicum is known to be the indigenous plant to Korea, Japan, and China. However, C. japonicum represents the most critically endangered plant species in South Korea. The plant is esthetically pleasing due to its flower, which is larger than any other orchidaceous species. Disease symptoms relating to gray mold were observed on C. japonicum in May 2019. The suspected pathogen was successfully isolated from the symptomatic leaf tissue and conducted a pure culture of the fungi. The conidia formed consisted of a colorless or light brown single cell, which was either egg or oval-shaped with a size of 7.1 to 13.4 × 5.2 to 8.6 μm. Molecular phylogenetic relationship analysis was also confirmed that the pathogen concerned belonging to the family of Botrytis cinerea. Therefore, the findings confirmed that the pathogen isolated from C. japonicum was consistent with the unique properties of B. cinerea.

Background/Aims: Little is known about the national colonoscopy volume in Asian countries. This study aimed to assess the national colonoscopy volume in Korea over a 12-year period on the basis of a nationwide population-based database. Methods: We conducted a population-based study for colonoscopy claims (14,511,158 colonoscopies performed on 13,219,781 patients) on the basis of the Korean National Health Insurance Service database from 2002 to 2013. The 12-year national colonoscopy burden was analyzed according to patient age, patient sex, and healthcare facility type. Results: The overall volume of colonoscopy increased 8-fold over the 12-year period. The annual colonoscopic polypectomy rate significantly increased in all patient sex and age groups over the 12-years period (all p<0.001). The yearly colonoscopic polypectomy rate for men was significantly increased compared with that for women (2.3% vs 1.7%, p<0.001) and for the screening-age group compared with that for the young-age group (2.0% vs 1.6%, p<0.001). The yearly colonoscopic polypectomy rate relative to the total colonoscopy volume significantly increased in primary, secondary, and tertiary facilities by 2.4%, 1.9%, and 1.4% during the 12-year period (all p<0.001). In addition, the annual colonoscopy volume covered by high-volume facilities significantly increased by 1.8% in primary healthcare facilities over the 12-year period (p<0.001). Conclusions Healthcare resources should be prioritized to allow adequate colonoscopic capacity, especially for men, individuals in the screening-age group, and at primary healthcare facilities. Cost-effective strategies to improve the quality of colonoscopy may focus on primary healthcare facilities and high-volume facilities in Korea.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiologic and clinical outcomes after intramedullary nailing with Poller screw insertion at initial stage in infraisthmal femur shaft fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven consecutive patients (7 femurs) treated with antegrade intramedullary nailing with Poller screw insertion for the infraisthmal femur shaft fracture were reviewed retrospectively. There were 4 male and 3 female patients. Mean age was 46.1 years (20-72 years). Operative time including Poller screw insertion, time for union, malalignment, and range of motion were evaluated. RESULTS: All 7 cases had primarily healed successfully. Mean time for radiologic union was 19.1 weeks (16-24 weeks) postoperatively. One case had 5 degree valgus malalignment. One case of 15 mm shortening was reported and he required shoe lift orthosis. All cases had a full range of motion in hip and knee joint. CONCLUSION: Antegrade intramedullary nailing with Poller screw insertion is useful in the initial treatment of infraisthmal femur shaft fracture, because it could provide additional stability. An additional 20 minutes were required but a Poller screw should be considered according to the anatomic location of a femur shaft fracture.
Female ; Femur* ; Fracture Fixation ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Hip ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Operative Time ; Orthotic Devices ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoes

PURPOSE: Survival outcome of locally advanced pancreatic cancer has been poor and little is known about prognostic factors of the disease, especially in locally advanced cases treated with concurrent chemoradiation. This study was to analyze overall survival and prognostic factors of patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in locally advanced pancreatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 34 patients diagnosed with unresectable pancreatic cancer and treated with definitive CCRT, from December 2003 to December 2012, were reviewed. Median prescribed radiation dose was 50.4 Gy (range, 41.4 to 55.8 Gy), once daily, five times per week, 1.8 to 3 Gy per fraction. RESULTS: With a mean follow-up of 10 months (range, 0 to 49 months), median overall survival was 9 months. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 40% and 10%, respectively. Median and mean time to progression were 5 and 7 months, respectively. Prognostic parameters related to overall survival were post-CCRT CA19-9 (p = 0.02), the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status (p < 0.01), and radiation dose (p = 0.04) according to univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, post-CCRT CA19-9 value below 180 U/mL and ECOG status 0 or 1 were statistically significant independent prognostic factors associated with improved overall survival (p < 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: Overall treatment results in locally advanced pancreatic cancer are relatively poor and few improvements have been accomplished in the past decades. Post-treatment CA19-9 below 180 U/mL and ECOG performance status 0 and 1 were significantly associated with an improved overall survival.
Chemoradiotherapy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of Cnidium monnieri fruit (CM) extracts on pulmonary inflammation induced in mice by cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Pulmonary inflammation was induced by intratracheal instillation of LPS and CSC five times within 12 days. CM extract was administered orally at a dose of 50 or 200 mg·kg(-1). The number of inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was counted using a fluorescence activated cell sorter. Inflammatory mediator levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The administration of LPS and CSC exacerbated airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) and induced an accumulation of inflammatory cells and mediators, and led to histological changes. However, these responses are modulated by treatment with CM, and the treatment with CM extract produces similar or more extensive results than the treatment with cyclosporin A (CSA). CM extract may have an inhibitory effect on pulmonary inflammation related with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Cnidium ; Female ; Fruit ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Pneumonia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Tobacco Products ; adverse effects

BACKGROUND: Molecular tools for tissue profiling generally require collection of fresh frozen tissues (FFT) as sources of high-quality DNA and RNA. Nowadays, researchers carry out large-scale, multi-center studies and they request inter-institutional minimal intrinsic bias, some fundamental similarities, and the same standardized and validated procedures. METHODS: This study reports standardized quality control procedure for fresh frozen tissue of the National Biobank of Korea. RESULTS: The main procedures for quality control for FFT are as follows: records related to sample collection such as labeling of samples, transport temperature, lag time from excision of tissue to freezing, and sample size were reviewed for all fresh frozen samples. The stability of RNA and DNA in fresh frozen tissue was evaluated for 3% of collected samples and purity was assessed (ratio of the absorbance at 260 and 280 nm) as was integrity (agarose gel electrophoresis). Stained hematoxylin and eosin sections were reviewed by a pathologist to confirm the diagnosis and to assess how representative the frozen sample was. CONCLUSIONS: We introduced that the quality-control criteria for fresh frozen tissue of the NBK. We expect that this study contributes to standardization of collection, storage, and quality control of fresh frozen tissue.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; DNA ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Freezing ; Hematoxylin ; Korea ; Quality Control ; RNA ; Sample Size

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignant tumor of the human liver. However, the molecular changes and mechanisms that regulate the development and progression of HCC remain unclear. Beta-catenin is known as a multi-functional protein that acts as a regulator of the cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion system and also in the Wingless/Wnt signal transduction pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of beta-catenin and its possible role in HCC. METHODS: We investigated the expression of beta-catenin, Ki-67, TP53, alpha-smooth muscle actin and CD34 by performing immunohistochemical staining for 61 specimens of HCC and their adjacent non-tumorous tissue. We also examined the relationship between the nuclear expression of beta-catenin and the clinicopathologic parameters. RESULTS: The altered expression of beta-catenin was not detected in the nontumorous liver tissue. The nuclear expression of beta-catenin was observed in approximately 16% (10/61) of the HCC specimens. Double immunohistochemical staining for beta-catenin and E-cadherin showed a close relationship between nuclear translocation of beta-catenin and the loss of the membranous E-cadherin expression. Significant correlation was found between the nuclear translocation of beta-catenin and the tumor size, tumor necrosis and the presence of microvessel invasion and intrahepatic metastasis (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This data indicates that nuclear translocation of beta-catenin could play a role in the growth and progression of HCC.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Neoplasm Metastasis

BACKGROUND: Intravenous alfentanil is one of the effective methods to minimize the hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. The purpose of this study is to get effective dose (ED50, ED95) of alfentanil to minimize the hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. METHODS: Sixty patients were divided into four groups. Each group received intravenous normal saline 5 ml (Control group), alfentanil 10microgram/kg (Al10), alfentanil 20microgram/kg (Al20) and alfentanil 30microgram/kg (Al30), respectively. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured before and after intubation. We considered the doses of alfentanil effective when the increase in MAP and HR after intubation did not exceed 10% of those before intubation. RESULTS: The ED50 of alfentanil was 12.7 (8.6-16.4)microgram/kg for MAP, 20.1 (15.7-25.6)microgram/kg for HR, respectively. The ED95 of alfentanil was 26.4 (21.7-36.2)microgram/kg for MAP, 38.6 (31.2-56.7)microgram/kg for HR, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Alfentanil was effective to minimize the hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation with its ED50 and ED95 as mentioned earlier.
Alfentanil* ; Arterial Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Laryngoscopy*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acute coronary syndrome occurs most commonly in the setting of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, but there is little information concerning the mechanism responsible for the transition from stable to unstable coronary atherosclerotic plaque. Hypothetically, several microorganism(Chlamydia pneumonia, Cytomegalovirus and Helicobacter pylori) and their inflammatory reaction have been suggested as a causative motive in progression of acute coronary syndrome. Although it is unclear whether the serum level of CRP as a inflammatory parameter is concerned with previous inflammatory change or myocardial necrosis, CRP apper to be predictive of higher risk for cardiac event in the patients with acute coronary syndrome. Our objective was to evaluate whether the inflammatory parameters(CRP, ESR and WBC count) is useful in predicting the short-term cardiac risk within 30 days. MATERIALS AND METHOD: One hundred and ten patients with acute coronary syndrome were enrolled from April 1998 through August 1998. Blood samples were collected at 1st hour, 24th hour, 48th hour and 7th day and tested for CRP, ESR, WBC count and CK-MB level. Values of 323 normal were used as control. All patients were followed up for 30 days and assessed for the presence of cardiac complications. RESULTS: Peak CRP value of the patients with acute myocardial infarction(3.4+/-3.85 mg/dL, n=2) was higher than that of the patients with unstable angina(0.7+/-0.93 mg/dL, n=8, p<0.05) and controls(0.3+/-0.48 mg/dL, n=23, p<0.05). Peak CRP value of patients with cardiac complication was higher than that of patients without complication(7.7+/-4.77 mg/dL, n=5 vs 1.3+/-1.74 mg/dL, n=5 ; p<0.05). In multivariate analysis, peak CRP value was the only predictive parameter for development of cardiac complications in the patients with acute coronary syndrome(Odds ratio 4.893, 95% confidence interval 1.212-19.756, p value=.026). In the high-CRP group(>2 mg/dL, n=0), the cardiac complication rate was higher than the low-CRP group(< or =2 mg/dL, n=0) (43.3% vs 2.5%, p<0.05). Peak CRP value was correlated with age(r=.191, p=.045), pulse rate(r=.186, p=.008), left ventricular ejection fraction(r=0.384, p<0.001), peak ESR(r=.383, p<0.001) and peak WBC count(r=.307, p=.001), but not with peak CK-MB level. CONCLUSION: Elevated CRP level in patients with acute coronary syndrome seems to be a valuable prognostic factor for the development of cardiac complications within 1 month after admission.
Acute Coronary Syndrome* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Cytomegalovirus ; Helicobacter ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Necrosis ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Pneumonia