Background: and Purpose The rate of donepezil discontinuation and the underlying reasons for discontinuation in Asian patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are currently unknown. We aimed to determine the treatment discontinuation rates in AD patients who had newly been prescribed donepezil in routine clinical practice in Asia. Methods: This 1-year observational study involved 38 institutions in seven Asian countries, and it evaluated 398 participants aged 50–90 years with a diagnosis of probable AD and on newly prescribed donepezil monotherapy. The primary endpoint was the rate of donepezil discontinuation over 1 year. Secondary endpoints included the reason for discontinuation,treatment duration, changes in cognitive function over the 1-year study period, and compliance as assessed using a clinician rating scale (CRS) and visual analog scale (VAS). Results: Donepezil was discontinued in 83 (20.9%) patients, most commonly due to an adverse event (43.4%). The mean treatment duration was 103.67 days in patients who discontinued. Among patients whose cognitive function was assessed at baseline and 1 year, there were no significant changes in scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Trail-Making Test–Black and White scores, whereas the Clinical Dementia Rating score increased significantly (p<0.001). Treatment compliance at 1 year was 96.8% (306/316) on the CRS and 92.6±14.1% (mean±standard deviation) on the VAS. Conclusions In patients on newly prescribed donepezil, the primary reason for discontinuation was an adverse event. Cognitive assessments revealed no significant worsening at 1 year, indicating that continuous donepezil treatment contributes to the maintenance of cognitive function.

Background: and Purpose The rate of donepezil discontinuation and the underlying reasons for discontinuation in Asian patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are currently unknown. We aimed to determine the treatment discontinuation rates in AD patients who had newly been prescribed donepezil in routine clinical practice in Asia. Methods: This 1-year observational study involved 38 institutions in seven Asian countries, and it evaluated 398 participants aged 50–90 years with a diagnosis of probable AD and on newly prescribed donepezil monotherapy. The primary endpoint was the rate of donepezil discontinuation over 1 year. Secondary endpoints included the reason for discontinuation,treatment duration, changes in cognitive function over the 1-year study period, and compliance as assessed using a clinician rating scale (CRS) and visual analog scale (VAS). Results: Donepezil was discontinued in 83 (20.9%) patients, most commonly due to an adverse event (43.4%). The mean treatment duration was 103.67 days in patients who discontinued. Among patients whose cognitive function was assessed at baseline and 1 year, there were no significant changes in scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Trail-Making Test–Black and White scores, whereas the Clinical Dementia Rating score increased significantly (p<0.001). Treatment compliance at 1 year was 96.8% (306/316) on the CRS and 92.6±14.1% (mean±standard deviation) on the VAS. Conclusions In patients on newly prescribed donepezil, the primary reason for discontinuation was an adverse event. Cognitive assessments revealed no significant worsening at 1 year, indicating that continuous donepezil treatment contributes to the maintenance of cognitive function.

PURPOSE: Many recent studies have reported that successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DESs) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) has more beneficial effects than failed CTO-PCI; however, there are only limited data available from comparisons of successful CTO-PCI with medical therapy (MT) in the Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 840 consecutive CTO patients who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography, receiving either PCI with DESs or MT, were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment assigned. To adjust for potential confounders, propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed using logistic regression. Individual major clinical outcomes and major adverse cardiac events, a composite of total death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and revascularization, were compared between the two groups up to 5 years. RESULTS: After PSM, two propensity-matched groups (265 pairs, n=530) were generated, and the baseline characteristics were balanced. Although the PCI group showed a higher incidence of target lesion and vessel revascularization on CTO, the incidence of MI tended to be lower [hazard ratio (HR): 0.339, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.110 to 1.043, p=0.059] and the composite of total death or MI was lower (HR: 0.454, 95% CI: 0.224 to 0.919, p=0.028), compared with the MT group up to 5 years. CONCLUSION: In this study, successful CTO PCI with DESs was associated with a higher risk of repeat PCI for the target vessel, but showed a reduced incidence of death or MI.
Coronary Angiography ; Drug-Eluting Stents* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Propensity Score ; Stroke

A 56-year-old female was referred to our hospital due to a mass measuring 5 cm in size in the left pelvic cavity, which was found incidentally during a health examination by ultrasonography. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and the mass was located at the left retroperitoneal parametrium without invasion of the uterus and ovary. The pathology report confirmed squamous cell carcinoma. Even after further studies, we did not find any other primary lesion. Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA chip test (HPV 9G DNA Membrane Kit, Biometrixtechnology Inc.) showed that the surgical specimen was positive for HPV 18. She received adjuvant chemotherapy and would receive radiation therapy for the possibility of occult gynecologic cancer. Retroperitoneal squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary is extremely rare and little is known about it. It is reported that HPV may be associated with the disease. Hence, the result of HPV test could have an impact on finding a suspicious primary lesion and treatment modality in this case.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; DNA ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Membranes ; Middle Aged ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Ovary ; Pathology ; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms ; Ultrasonography ; Uterus

Treatments for patient with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) agents. However, owing to the well-known nephrotoxicity of NSAIDs and some DMARDs, the use of these drugs is limited in AS patients with renal insufficiency. As the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of anti-TNFalpha agents in patients of end stage renal disease, especially those receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD), have not been investigated well, little is known about treating them with anti-TNFalpha agents. We described the safety and efficacy of etanercept, a soluble fusion protein comprising the TNF receptor 2 in linkage with the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G, in a 40-year-old male AS patient receiving PD.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Antirheumatic Agents ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Metabolism ; Necrosis ; Peritoneal Dialysis* ; Pharmacokinetics ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; Renal Insufficiency ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Etanercept

Sihler's staining allows visualization of the nerve distribution within soft tissues without extensive dissection and does not require slide preparation, unlike traditional approaches. This technique can be applied to the mucosa, muscle, and organs that contain myelinated nerve fibers. In particular, Sihler's technique may be considered the best tool for observing nerve distribution within skeletal muscles. The intramuscular distribution pattern of nerves is difficult to observe through manual manipulation due to the gradual tapering of nerves toward the terminal end of muscles, so it should be accompanied by histological studies to establish the finer branches therein. This method provides useful information not only for anatomists but also for physiologists and clinicians. Advanced knowledge of the nerve distribution patterns will be useful for developing guidelines for clinicians who perform operations such as muscle resection, tendon transplantation, and botulinum toxin injection. Furthermore, it is a useful technique to develop neurosurgical techniques and perform electrophysiological experiments. In this review, Sihler's staining technique is described in detail, covering its history, staining protocol, advantages, disadvantages, and possible applications. The application of this technique for determining the arterial distribution pattern is also described additionally in this study.
Anatomists ; Arteries ; Botulinum Toxins ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated ; Tendons ; Transplants

Abdominal tuberculosis usually affects the gastrointestinal tract, peritoneum, lymph nodes, liver or spleen. Tuberculosis of the spleen is uncommon, except when associated with miliary dissemination. We report a case of a 33-year-old man with tuberculosis of the accessory spleen, which was originally suspected to be a distal pancreatic tumor. He was admitted with a history of left upper quadrant abdominal pain for 3 months. Computed tomography imaging of the abdomen revealed a 4.5 cm sized poorly defined hypodense mass in the distal pancreas and showed multiple focal hypodense lesions in the enlarged spleen. We performed distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy under the preoperative expectation of a distal pancreatic tumor. Microscopic examination of the specimens revealed accessory splenic tuberculosis associated with splenic tuberculosis. Following this, he was treated with appropriate antituberculosis drugs and was discharged without any complications.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Pancreas ; Pancreatectomy ; Peritoneum ; Spleen ; Splenectomy ; Splenomegaly ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Splenic

The aim of this study is to identify the species characteristics of the dog mastication compared to the human by analyzing 8 landmarks on the heads from seven beagle dogs. The masticatory unit of the dog was relatively located posterior than the human. The predominance of horizontally-oriented fibers of the temporalis of the dog was shown in spite of vertical mandibular movement. The biomechanics of the coronoid process and the temporalis of the dog revealed but not superiorly-elevating like the human backward rotating the coronoid process. The masseter was also obliquely -oriented and the temporalis was observed in distinct two-layers. In the dogs, the higher coronoid process compared to the condyle was observed; the vertical difference of them was larger than human. The temporalis performs stronger action than masseter and related with marked horizontal action of the temporalis. These morphologies indicated that the mastication of the dog needs strengthened horizontal stability and it was taken by the cervical muscles attached backwardly to the skull. Thickened temporalis is adapted in feeding. The dentition of dog was longer and farther from the condyle and the pterygoid muscles were not well-developed than human, indicated unfavourable lateral movement. These findings were consistent with evolutionary tendency, feeding without hands and narrow skull.
Animals ; Biomechanics ; Dentition ; Dogs ; Hand ; Head ; Humans ; Mastication ; Muscles ; Pterygoid Muscles ; Skull ; Stomatognathic System

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical results of using the technique of rotator cuff repair without parting the biceps long head from the glenoid for large or massive tear of the rotator cuff. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Form January 2005 to January 2007, we performed the arthroscopic biceps repair with incorporating suture to the rotator cuff for 21 patients with large or massive rotator cuff tear. The mean follow up period was 23 months (range: 6-48months). The number of males and females was 9 and 13, respectively. The age distribution ranged from 47 to 73 years with a mean age of 60.3 years. We compared the preoperative score with the postoperative scores using the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score, the shoulder index of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and a simple shoulder test (SST). RESULTS: The improvement in the VAS, ASES and the UCLA and SST scores was statistically significant at the final follow up (average follow-up 23 months) (p>0.05). Two of nine cases were found to have partial tear with continuity but seven cases were found to have complete tear according to the ultrasonography and MRI. CONCLUSION: The technique of rotator cuff repair without parting the biceps long head from the glenoid for large or massive tear of the rotator cuff is considered to be recommendable.
Age Distribution ; California ; Elbow ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Los Angeles ; Male ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Sutures ; Tendons

The midpalatal suture area and maxillary interdental area are suitable site for the placement of orthodontic mini-implant. The purpose of this study was to provide a guideline to indicate the best location for mini-implant placement as it relates to the thickness of soft tissue and cortical bone. Fifteen maxilla from 15 cadavers were cut in midsagittal plane and buccopalatal plane to measure the thickness of soft tissue and cortical bone of midpalatal and maxillary posterior interdental areas. Sectioned samples were scanned and the thickness was measured. The thickness of soft tissue and cortical bone were measured at 6 points from the interdental papilla with 5-mm intervals in the mid-sagittal section. And, the thickness of soft tissue and cortical bone were also measured at 5 points from the alveolar crest with 1-mm intervals in the buccopalatal section. The mean and standard deviation of the measurement were calculated. Soft tissue thickness at the midpalatal suture area was 1.46 mm at 15 mm from the interdental papilla and remained uniformly thick posterior to this point, and steeply increased at 35 mm area posteriorly. Cortical bone thickness were greatest (2.13 mm) at 20 mm from the interdental papilla and remained uniformly thick posterior to this point, and decreased at 30 mm area posteriorly. Palatal soft tissues thickness in all groups was thinnest at the 1 mm from the alveolar crest and gradually increased from alveolar crest to apical portion. Cortical bone thickness in all groups was thickest at the 1 mm from the alveolar crest and slightly decreased from alveolar crest to apical portion. Buccal soft tissue thickness in all groups was thickest at the 1 mm from the alveolar crest and gradually decreased from alveolar crest to apical portion. Cortical bone thickness in all groups was thinnest at the 1 mm from the alveolar crest and slightly increased from alveolar crest to apical portion. Soft tissue thicknesses were greater on the palatal side than on the buccal side. Cortical bone thicknesses of the buccal side were thicker than the palatal side. These results provide anatomical data of soft tissue and cortical bone thickness to assist in the determination of safe location for the mini-implant placement in the midpalatal and maxillary interdental areas.
Cadaver ; Gingiva ; Maxilla ; Sutures