BACKGROUND: Creating a natural-looking umbilicus during closure of the donor-site in abdominally based free flap breast reconstruction is a factor of satisfaction for both the patient and surgeon. We present a simple method of umbilical transposition that results in an aesthetic, natural-looking umbilicus. METHODS: From March 2011 to November 2014, fifty three consecutive female patients received abdominal flap breast reconstruction. Twenty patients (from March 2011 to February 2013) underwent umbilical transposition through a cross like incision in the abdominal flap, with fascial fixation sutures but no dermal flaps. Thirty three patients (March 2013 to November 2014) received umbilical transposition in the following method. An oval-shaped incision is made at the location of the new umbilicus on the abdominal flap. This oval is deepithelialized, and full-thickness incisions are made at the 2, 6, and 10 o'clock directions to create three triangular dermal flaps. These are pulled down to the abdominal fascia using sutures that pass through the umbilical stalk and the abdominal fascia at the 3, 9, and 12 o'clock directions. This results in an umbilical stalk lined with dermal flaps, creates a natural periumbilical concavity, and anchors the abdominal flap inward to minimize tension. The cranial flap enhances superior hooding. RESULTS: Patient and surgeon satisfaction, surveyed 2 months after surgery with a satisfaction scoring system, were higher in the dermal flap group. CONCLUSIONS: The technique using three dermal flaps in an oval skin incision is simple, relatively easy to learn, and results in an aesthetic, natural-looking umbilicus.
Abdominoplasty ; Fascia ; Female ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; Methods* ; Skin ; Surgical Flaps ; Sutures ; Umbilicus

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of antiplatelet agents for the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke based on cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) polymorphisms. METHODS: This study was a prospective, multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, open-label, blind genotype trial. First time non-cardiogenic ischemic stroke patients were enrolled and screened within 30 days. Participants were randomized to receive either triflusal or clopidogrel for secondary stroke prevention. The primary outcome was the time from randomization to first recurrent ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke. RESULTS: The required sample size was 1,080 but only 784 (73%) participants were recruited. In patients with a poor CYP2C19 genotype for clopidogrel metabolism (n=484), the risk of recurrent stroke among those who received triflusal treatment was 2.9% per year, which was not significantly different from those who received clopidogrel treatment (2.2% per year; hazard ratio [HR], 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60–2.53). In the clopidogrel treatment group (n=393), 38% had good genotypes and 62% poor genotypes for clopidogrel metabolism. The risk of recurrent stroke in patients with a good CYP2C19 genotype was 1.6% per year, which was not significantly different from those with a poor genotype (2.2% per year; HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.26–1.79). CONCLUSIONS: Whilst there were no significant differences between the treatment groups in the rates of stroke recurrence, major vascular events, or coronary revascularization, the efficacy of antiplatelet agents for the secondary prevention of stroke according to CYP2C19 genotype status remains unclear.
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19 ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System* ; Cytochromes* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Prospective Studies ; Random Allocation ; Recurrence ; Sample Size ; Secondary Prevention* ; Stroke*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The translocation of bacteria and their lipopolysaccharides from the gut can promote fibrosis in cirrhotic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rifaximin on hepatic fibrosis in a bile duct-ligated rat model. METHODS: The bile duct ligation (BDL) was carried out for eight days (acute injury model: sham-operated rats [G1], BDL rats [G2], and BDL rats treated with rifaximin [G3]) or 22 days (chronic injury model: sham-operated rats [G4], BDL rats [G5], and BDL rats treated with rifaximin [G6]). Rifaximin (50 mg/kg/day) was administered daily via gavage after BDL. Liver function, serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and hepatic hydroxyproline levels were measured. Moreover, a histological analysis of fibrosis contents was performed using sirius red stain. RESULTS: In the acute injury model, the liver function and TNF-α level were not improved after the rifaximin treatment. The hydroxyproline levels (µg/g liver tissue) in G1, G2, and G3 were 236.4±103.1, 444.8±114.4, and 312.5±131.6, respectively; and fibrosis contents (%) were 0.22±0.04, 1.64±0.53, and 1.66±0.44, respectively. The rifaximin treatment did not ameliorate acute BDL-induced fibrosis. In the chronic injury model, the hydroxyproline levels in G4, G5, and G6 were 311.5±72.9, 1,110.3±357.9, and 944.3±209.3, respectively; and fibrosis contents (%) were 0.19±0.03, 5.04±0.18, and 4.42±0.68, respectively (G5 vs. G6, p=0.059). The rifaximin treatment marginally ameliorated chronic BDL-induced fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Rifaximin did not reduce inflammation and fibrosis in bile duct-ligated rat model.
Animals ; Bacteria ; Bile Ducts ; Bile* ; Fibrosis* ; Humans ; Hydroxyproline ; Inflammation ; Ligation ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Models, Animal* ; Rats* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and trigger point injection (TPI) for the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome in the quadratus lumborum. METHODS: In a retrospective study at our institute, 30 patients with myofascial pain syndrome in the quadratus lumborum were assigned to ESWT or TPI groups. We assessed ESWT and TPI treatment according to their affects on pain relief and disability improvement. The outcome measures for the pain assessment were a visual analogue scale score and pain pressure threshold. The outcome measures for the disability assessment were Oswestry Disability Index, Roles and Maudsley, and Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale scores. RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in pain and disability measures after treatment. However, in comparing the treatments, we found ESWT to be more effective than TPI for pain relief. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with respect to disability. CONCLUSION: Compared to TPI, ESWT showed superior results for pain relief. Thus, we consider ESWT as an effective treatment for myofascial pain syndrome in the quadratus lumborum.
Back Pain ; Humans ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes* ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Pain Measurement ; Quebec ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock* ; Trigger Points*

OBJECTIVE: To identify potential imaging biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease by combining brain cortical thickness (CThk) and functional connectivity and to validate this model's diagnostic accuracy in a validation set. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 98 subjects was retrospectively reviewed, including a study set (n = 63) and a validation set from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (n = 35). From each subject, data for CThk and functional connectivity of the default mode network was extracted from structural T1-weighted and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Cortical regions with significant differences between patients and healthy controls in the correlation of CThk and functional connectivity were identified in the study set. The diagnostic accuracy of functional connectivity measures combined with CThk in the identified regions was evaluated against that in the medial temporal lobes using the validation set and application of a support vector machine. RESULTS: Group-wise differences in the correlation of CThk and default mode network functional connectivity were identified in the superior temporal (p < 0.001) and supramarginal gyrus (p = 0.007) of the left cerebral hemisphere. Default mode network functional connectivity combined with the CThk of those two regions were more accurate than that combined with the CThk of both medial temporal lobes (91.7% vs. 75%). CONCLUSION: Combining functional information with CThk of the superior temporal and supramarginal gyri in the left cerebral hemisphere improves diagnostic accuracy, making it a potential imaging biomarker for Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Biomarkers ; Brain ; Cerebrum ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroimaging* ; Parietal Lobe ; Retrospective Studies ; Support Vector Machine ; Temporal Lobe

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although the role of capsule endoscopy (CE) in Crohn's disease (CD) has expanded, CE is not used routinely for diagnosing and evaluating CD in Korea. We aimed to investigate current patterns of practice and evaluate the clinical significance of the use of CE in CD in Korean patients. METHODS: Among 651 CE procedures performed for various indications, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent CE in 57 cases of suspected CD (sCD) and 14 cases of established CD (eCD). RESULTS: In the sCD group, CE was most commonly used for the initial diagnosis of CD (54.4%). Capsule retention was found in only 1 patient in the eCD group (1/71, 1.4%). In the sCD group, 28.1% of patients were diagnosed with CD on the basis of CE findings; other diseases diagnosed included tuberculous enteritis (7.0%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteropathy (5.3%), and other enteritis (17.5%). Only 11.5% of patients with eCD (14/122) underwent CE. The indication for CE in the 14 patients with eCD was to assess disease extent and activity. The overall diagnostic yield of CE was 59.7%. Therapeutic strategies were changed in 70.2% of patients in the sCD group and 50% of those in the eCD group based on CE findings. CONCLUSIONS: In clinical practice, CE was most commonly indicated for the initial diagnosis of CD and was not generally performed in patients with eCD. CE appears to be an effective diagnostic modality for evaluating sCD and is useful for determining therapeutic strategies for patients with sCD and those with eCD.
Capsule Endoscopy* ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis ; Enteritis ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of acid etching treatment on surface characteristics and biological response of glass-infiltrated zirconia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hundred zirconia specimens were divided into four groups depending on surface treatments: untreated zirconia (group Z); acid-etched zirconia (group ZE); glass-infiltrated zirconia (group ZG); and glass-infiltrated and acid-etched zirconia (group ZGE). Surface roughness, surface topography, surface morphology, and Vickers hardness of specimens were evaluated. For biological response test, MC3T3-E1 cell attachment and proliferation on surface of the specimens were examined. The data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Group ZGE showed the highest surface roughness (Ra = 1.54 µm) compared with other groups (P < .05). Meanwhile, the hardness of group Z was significantly higher than those of other groups (P < .05). Cell attachment and cell proliferation were significantly higher in group ZGE (P < .05). CONCLUSION: We concluded that effective surface roughness on zirconia could be made by acid etching treatment after glass infiltration. This surface showed significantly enhanced osteoblast cell response.
Cell Proliferation ; Glass ; Hardness ; Osteoblasts

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the width ratio of maxillary anterior teeth according to age in the Korean population and to evaluate the maxillary central incisor width-to-length (W/L) ratio, given differences in age and gender. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-three Korean adults were divided into 3 groups (n = 31) by age. Group I was 20 - 39 years old, Group II was 40 - 59 years old, and Group III was over 60 years of age. After taking an impression and a cast model of the maxillary arch, the anterior teeth width ratio and central incisor W/L ratio were calculated from standard digital images of the cast models using a graph paper with a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera. The calculated ratios were compared among all groups and central incisor W/L ratio were analyzed according to age and gender. All comparative data were statistically analyzed with one-sample t-tests, one-way ANOVAs with Tukey tests, and independent t-tests. RESULTS: No significant differences in maxillary anterior teeth ratios were found among the age groups. The maxillary central incisor W/L ratios in Group III were the greatest and were significantly higher than those in the other groups. The central incisor W/L ratio of men was higher than that of women in Group II. CONCLUSION: Maxillary anterior teeth width ratios were similar in all age groups in the Korean population. The maxillary central incisor was observed as worn teeth in the group over 60 years of age, and a significant difference between genders was found in 40 to 50 year olds.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Incisor ; Male ; Reflex ; Tooth*

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to identify the factors influencing successful organ donation and families' consent to donate after brain death. METHODS: Medical records and data regarding organ donation counseling with the families of 107 brain-dead potential donors between September 2012 and March 2016 at a single tertiary medical center were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The final consent rate was 57.9% (62/107), and successful donation was performed in 40.2% (43/107) of cases. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the independent factors associated with successful organ donation were age <60 years (odds ratio [OR], 3.384; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.350 to 8.484; P=0.009), systolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg (OR, 6.261; 95% CI, 1.418 to 27.653; P=0.015), and serum sodium level ≥150 mEq (OR, 4.215; 95% CI, 1.655 to 10.733; P=0.003). Family's consent to donate was significantly associated with head trauma (OR, 3.538; 95% CI, 1.104 to 11.334; P=0.033) and serum sodium level ≥150 mEq (OR, 3.392; 95% CI, 1.404 to 8.194; P=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Successful organ donation was associated with patient age, systolic blood pressure and serum sodium level. Family's consent to donate was associated with head trauma and serum sodium level.
Blood Pressure ; Brain Death ; Counseling ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sodium ; Tissue and Organ Procurement* ; Tissue Donors

PURPOSE: KX-01 is a novel dual inhibitor of Src and tubulin. Unlike previous Src inhibitors that failed to show clinical benefit during treatment of breast cancer, KX-01 can potentially overcome the therapeutic limitations of current Src inhibitors through inhibition of both Src and tubulin. The present study further evaluates the activity and mechanism of KX-01 in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antitumor effect of KX-01 in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines was determined by MTT assay. Wound healing and immunofluorescence assays were performed to evaluate the action mechanisms of KX-01. Changes in the cell cycle and molecular changes induced by KX-01 were also evaluated. A MDA-MB-231 mouse xenograft model was used to demonstrate the in vivo effects. RESULTS: KX-01 effectively inhibited the growth of breast cancer cell lines. The expression of phospho-Src and proliferative-signaling molecules were down-regulated in KX-01-sensitive TNBC cell lines. In addition, migration inhibition was observed by wound healing assay. KX-01-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and increased the aneuploid cell population in KX-01-sensitive cell lines. Multi-nucleated cells were significantly increased after KX-01 treatment. Furthermore, KX-01 effectively delayed tumor growth in a MDA-MB-231 mouse xenograft model. CONCLUSION: KX-01 effectively inhibited cell growth and migration of TNBC cells. Moreover, this study demonstrated that KX-01 showed antitumor effects through the inhibition of Src signaling and the induction of mitotic catastrophe. The antitumor effects of KX-01 were also demonstrated in vivo using a mouse xenograft model.
Aneuploidy ; Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Heterografts ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mice ; Microtubules ; Mitosis* ; src-Family Kinases* ; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms ; Tubulin ; Wound Healing