Objective: Flebogrif® is a new mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) technique for treating chronic venous disorders (CVD), with limited studies available. This study provides early clinical outcomes from its use in South Korea. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 55 patients treated with Flebogrif®at a Charm Vascular Clinic in Seoul. Mechanical injury combined with foam sclerosant (2% STS and CO 2 ) was applied to 113 saphenous veins. Primary outcomes were anatomical success at 1 and 3 months, with secondary outcomes included adverse events, pain scores, rVCSS score, CIVIQ14 score, time to return to normal activities and foam sclerosant dosages. Results: The anatomical success rate were analyzed as 97.3% at 1 month and 96.9% at 3 months. Adverse events were mild, with no occurrences of severe events such as paresthesia or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The mean time returned to normal activities was 1.07±0.42 days. Notably, Flebogrif® allowed treatment of multiple veins without increased risk, averaging a foam sclerosant volume of 15.85±5.71 cc per procedure. rVCSS and CIVIQ14 scores showed a statistically significant decrease from the initial scores. Conclusion Flebogrif® shows promise as an effective and safe treatment for CVD, achieving comparable results to other methods with potential cost benefits. Further studies are recommended for validation.

Flebogrif® is a new modality of mechanochemical ablation for incompetent saphenous vein treatment. With our experiences, it offers advantages such as reduced sclerosant dosage, shorter procedure times, lower catheter costs and in terms of closure rate as well. However, the potential for increased pain and thrombophlebitis due to more potent mechanical injury is apparent.

The cyanoacrylate embolization (CAE) technique for chronic venous disease treatment is less painful and leads to a faster recovery than conventional endovenous thermal treatment. According to the instructions for use (IFU) of the VenaSeal closure system (Medtronic), a representative CAE product, it has only been approved for treating saphenous veins, not non-saphenous veins. Here, we report a case of ignoring the VenaSeal IFU for treating testicular pain using CAE for nonsaphenous veins within the abdominal wall, which is a baseless and non-scientific approach nearing malpractice. Hence, it is imperative for physicians to rigorously adhere to the IFU and abstain from experimenting with new treatment methods solely based on personal experience.

Digital therapeutics based on software, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, games, and smartphone applications, are in the spotlight as new therapeutic alternatives in child and adolescent psychiatry. It draws attention to overcoming conventional therapeutics’ limitations, such as toxicity, cost, and accessibility, and encourages patients to participate in the treatment attractively. The growth potential of the digital therapeutics market for psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents in Korea and abroad has been highlighted. Clinical studies and Food and Drug Administration approvals for digital therapeutics have increased, and cases approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety have emerged in Korea. As seen above, digital transformation in child and adolescent psychiatry will change treatment paradigms significantly. Therefore, as this new field has just begun to emerge, it is necessary to verify the effectiveness and scope of the application of digital therapeutics and consider preparing a compensation system and institutional arrangements. Accordingly, this study analyzed the development trends and application status of digital therapeutics in children and adolescents and presented limitations and development directions from the perspective of application in healthcare. Further, the study is expected to identify the utility and limitations of digital therapeutics for children and adolescents and establish effective application measures.

Mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) is a non-thermal, non-tumescent technique for the treatment of incompetent saphenous vein. It is sometimes difficult to maintain consistency when simultaneously implementing wire rotation, sclerosant injection, and wire pullback. Here, we report a simple technique for achieving constant injection during MOCA with the help of a syringe pump; thus, the operator can focus on wire pullback only with convenience and consistency.

Objective: : The purpose of this study is identify the operation status of the neurosurgical care units (NCUs) in neurosurgical residency training hospitals nationwide and determine needed changes by comparing findings with those obtained from the Korean Neurosurgical Society (KNS) and Korean Society of Neurointensive Care Medicine (KNIC) survey of 2010.Method : This survey was conducted over 1 year in 86 neurosurgical residency training hospitals and two neurosurgery specialist hospitals and focused on the following areas : 1) the current status of the infrastructure and operating systems of NCUs in Korea, 2) barriers to installing neurointensivist team systems, 3) future roles of the KNS and KNIC, and 4) a handbook for physicians and practitioners in NCUs. We compared and analyzed the results of this survey with those from a KNIC survey of 2010. Results: : Seventy seven hospitals (87.5%) participated in the survey. Nineteen hospitals (24.7%) employed a neurointensivist or faculty member; Thirty seven hospitals (48.1%) reported high demand for neurointensivists, and 62 hospitals (80.5%) stated that the mandatory deployment of a neurointensivist improved the quality of patient care. Forty four hospitals (57.1%) believed that hiring neurointensivist would increase hospital costs, and in response to a question on potential earnings declines. In terms of potential solutions to these problems, 70 respondents (90.9%) maintained that additional fees were necessary for neurointensivists’ work, and 64 (83.1%) answered that direct support was needed of the personnel expenses for neurointensivists. Conclusion : We hope the results of this survey will guide successful implementation of neurointensivist systems across Korea.

This study provides a statistical analysis of 1,226 cases of death occurring in Area 8, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (Gangseo, Yangcheon, and Guro Police Stations) from January 1 to December 31, 2017. There were 427 postmortem inspection cases in Gangseo, 393 in Yangcheon, 377 in Guro, and 29 in other areas. The number of autopsy cases was 69 in Gangseo, 70 in Yangcheon, 86 in Guro, and seven in other areas. According to the postmortem inspection reports, there were 593 cases of natural death and 336 cases of unnatural death, while in 297 cases the cause of death was unknown. Of the 297 unknown cases, autopsy rates from each police station were as follows: 54 of 99 cases (54.5%) in Gangseo, 60 of 101 cases (59.4%) in Yangcheon, 67 of 93 cases (72.0%) in Guro, and in all four cases (100%) from other areas. Unnatural deaths included 215 cases of suicide, nine cases of homicide, and 64 accidental death, while 48 cases were undetermined. Among the unnatural deaths, the cause of death included 138 cases of hanging, 72 cases of falls from a height, and 32 cases of poisoning. Since this statistical study is based on actual postmortem inspection data for 1,226 cases of death in the eight areas of Seoul (excluding deaths from traffic accidents), it raises issues relating to the current postmortem inspection system, and can be used as reference material for a comprehensive overview of causes of death.
Accidental Falls ; Autopsy ; Cause of Death ; Homicide ; Humans ; Poisoning ; Police ; Seoul ; Statistics as Topic ; Suicide

PURPOSE: Increased bone regeneration has been achieved through the use of stem cells in combination with graft material. However, the survival of transplanted stem cells remains a major concern. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at an early time point (24 hours) based on the type and form of the scaffold used, including type I collagen membrane and synthetic bone. METHODS: The stem cells were obtained from the periosteum of the otherwise healthy dental patients. Four symmetrical circular defects measuring 6 mm in diameter were made in New Zealand white rabbits using a trephine drill. The defects were grafted with 1) synthetic bone (β-tricalcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite [β-TCP/HA]) and 1×105 MSCs, 2) collagen membrane and 1×105 MSCs, 3) β-TCP/HA+collagen membrane and 1×105 MSCs, or 4) β-TCP/HA, a chipped collagen membrane and 1×105 MSCs. Cellular viability and the cell migration rate were analyzed. RESULTS: Cells were easily separated from the collagen membrane, but not from synthetic bone. The number of stem cells attached to synthetic bone in groups 1, 3, and 4 seemed to be similar. Cellular viability in group 2 was significantly higher than in the other groups (P<0.05). The cell migration rate was highest in group 2, but this difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that stem cells can be applied when a membrane is used as a scaffold under no or minimal pressure. When space maintenance is needed, stem cells can be loaded onto synthetic bone with a chipped membrane to enhance the survival rate.
Bone Regeneration ; Bone Transplantation ; Cell Movement ; Cell Survival ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Humans ; Membranes ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Periosteum ; Rabbits ; Space Maintenance, Orthodontic ; Stem Cells ; Survival Rate ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Transplants