Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis predominantly involving medium- or small-sized arteries, typically of the kidneys and other internal organs. Given the rarity of PAN and the variable clinical presentation, diagnosis is challenging and, to date, no definitive diagnostic marker has been identified. A patient diagnosed with immunoglobulin A nephropathy was observed to exhibit deterioration in renal function. To determine whether new structural abnormalities had developed, computed tomography scans of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder were obtained. Both kidneys exhibited multiple cortical defects, and a renal angiogram was performed to determine the cause. Angiography revealed partial obliteration of the left distal renal artery branches and multifocal extensive infarctions in both kidneys, and the patient was diagnosed with renal-limited PAN. Following steroid monotherapy, an improvement in renal function was observed. We believe that this case report may be helpful to physicians who assess and treat patients with suspected renal-limited PAN.

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis predominantly involving medium- or small-sized arteries, typically of the kidneys and other internal organs. Given the rarity of PAN and the variable clinical presentation, diagnosis is challenging and, to date, no definitive diagnostic marker has been identified. A patient diagnosed with immunoglobulin A nephropathy was observed to exhibit deterioration in renal function. To determine whether new structural abnormalities had developed, computed tomography scans of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder were obtained. Both kidneys exhibited multiple cortical defects, and a renal angiogram was performed to determine the cause. Angiography revealed partial obliteration of the left distal renal artery branches and multifocal extensive infarctions in both kidneys, and the patient was diagnosed with renal-limited PAN. Following steroid monotherapy, an improvement in renal function was observed. We believe that this case report may be helpful to physicians who assess and treat patients with suspected renal-limited PAN.

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis predominantly involving medium- or small-sized arteries, typically of the kidneys and other internal organs. Given the rarity of PAN and the variable clinical presentation, diagnosis is challenging and, to date, no definitive diagnostic marker has been identified. A patient diagnosed with immunoglobulin A nephropathy was observed to exhibit deterioration in renal function. To determine whether new structural abnormalities had developed, computed tomography scans of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder were obtained. Both kidneys exhibited multiple cortical defects, and a renal angiogram was performed to determine the cause. Angiography revealed partial obliteration of the left distal renal artery branches and multifocal extensive infarctions in both kidneys, and the patient was diagnosed with renal-limited PAN. Following steroid monotherapy, an improvement in renal function was observed. We believe that this case report may be helpful to physicians who assess and treat patients with suspected renal-limited PAN.

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis predominantly involving medium- or small-sized arteries, typically of the kidneys and other internal organs. Given the rarity of PAN and the variable clinical presentation, diagnosis is challenging and, to date, no definitive diagnostic marker has been identified. A patient diagnosed with immunoglobulin A nephropathy was observed to exhibit deterioration in renal function. To determine whether new structural abnormalities had developed, computed tomography scans of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder were obtained. Both kidneys exhibited multiple cortical defects, and a renal angiogram was performed to determine the cause. Angiography revealed partial obliteration of the left distal renal artery branches and multifocal extensive infarctions in both kidneys, and the patient was diagnosed with renal-limited PAN. Following steroid monotherapy, an improvement in renal function was observed. We believe that this case report may be helpful to physicians who assess and treat patients with suspected renal-limited PAN.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) survivors have an increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study assessed the risk of COPD development and COPD-related hospitalization in TB survivors compared to controls. Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study of TB survivors and 1:1 age- and sex-matched controls using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database collected from 2010 to 2017. We compared the risk of COPD development and COPD-related hospitalization between TB survivors and controls. Results: Of the subjects, 9.6% developed COPD, and 2.8% experienced COPD-related hospitalization. TB survivors had significantly higher COPD incidence rates (36.7/1,000 vs. 18.8/1,000 person-years, P < 0.001) and COPD-related hospitalization (10.7/1,000 vs.4.3/1,000 person-years, P < 0.001) than controls. Multivariable Cox regression analyses revealed higher risks of COPD development (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.54–1.73) and COPD-related hospitalization (aHR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.81–2.27) in TB survivors. Among those who developed COPD, the hospitalization rate was higher in individuals with post-TB COPD compared to those with non-TB COPD (10.7/1,000 vs. 4.9/1,000 person-years, P < 0.001), showing an increased risk of COPD-related hospitalization (aHR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.17–2.92). Conclusion TB survivors had higher risks of incident COPD and COPD-related hospitalization compared to controls. These results suggest that previous TB is an important COPD etiology associated with COPD-related hospitalization.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) characterized by an enlarged prostate gland is common in elderly men. Corni Fructus (CF) and Schisandrae Fructus (SF) are known to have various pharmacological effects, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory efficacy of CF, SF, and their mixture (MIX) on the development of BPH using an in vivo model of testosteroneinduced BPH.MATERIALS/METHODS: Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups. To induce BPH, testosterone propionate (TP) was injected to rats except for those in the control group. Finasteride, saw palmetto (SP), CF, SF, and MIX were orally administered along with TP injection. At the end of treatment, histological changes in the prostate and the level of various biomarkers related to BPH were evaluated. RESULTS: Our results showed that BPH induced by TP led to prostate weight and histological changes. Treatment with MIX effectively improved TP-induced BPH by reducing prostate index, lumen area, epithelial thickness, and expression of BPH biomarkers such as 5α-reductase type 2, prostate-specific antigen, androgen receptor, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen compared to treatment with CF or SF alone. Moreover, MIX further reduced levels of elevated serum testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and prostate-specific antigen in BPH compared to the SP, a positive control. BPH was also improved more by MIX than by CF or SF alone. CONCLUSIONS Based on the results, MIX is a potential natural therapeutic candidate for BPH by regulating 5α-reductase and AR signaling pathway.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is known to have a high incidence of loss of smell and taste. However, studies in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic have evaluated these symptoms using subjective surveys and simple olfactory tests only. Hence, we compared the olfactory and gustatory characteristics of patient groups with COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction (C19OD) and non-COVID-19 postinfectious olfactory dysfunction (PIOD) using an objective olfactory test and evaluated the significance of olfactory training in both patient groups. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 14 patients with a decreased sense of smell after having positive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction results, and 56 patients with PIOD with no history of confirmed COVID-19. Participants were evaluated using the Korean version of the Sniffin’ stick (KVSS) II, and chemical gustometry and olfactory training was assessed during their first visit. Olfactory training was then re-evaluated after an average of 8 (± 6) weeks. Results: The average age of participants in the C19OD group was lower than in those in the non-COVID-19 PIOD group. The proportion of men in the C19OD group was higher than in the non-COVID-19 PIOD group. At baseline assessment, the C19OD group had better olfactory and gustatory functions. After olfactory training, the non-COVID-19 PIOD patient group showed a significant increase in all KVSS II Total, T, D, and I scores, but there was a non-significant increase in all scores in the C19OD group. Conclusion The C19OD group had better olfactory and gustatory function than the nonCOVID-19 PIOD group at the initial assessment. After olfactory training, there was an increase in olfactory function test scores in both groups. Olfactory training may be helpful in C19OD, as in non-COVID-19 PIOD.

Background and Objectives: Since the introduction of nasal valve surgery, trends in septoplasty and inferior turbinate surgery (ITS) have changed in Korea. However, a detailed analysis of these changes has yet to be conducted. Methods: Data on septoplasty and ITS performed from 2010 to 2022 were extracted from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) Bigdata Open portal and trends were analyzed. Analyses according to the type of medical institution, patient sex and age, and the specialty of the surgeon were also conducted. Results: The frequency of both septoplasty and ITS gradually decreased from 2012 to 2017, which marked the low point, and the frequency of these procedures gradually increased thereafter. In 2010, 41.5% of septoplasty procedures were performed in general hospitals, 7.3% in hospitals, and 47.3% in clinics. However, the proportion of these procedures performed in general hospitals subsequently decreased, while the corresponding proportion in hospitals and clinics increased. Both septoplasty and ITS were performed more than twice as often in men than in women. The number of patients under the age of 19 decreased, while the number of female patients aged 20–29 increased. The number of septoplasty procedures performed by plastic surgeons increased. Conclusion Since the introduction of nasal valve surgery, the number of septoplasty procedures performed by plastic surgeons has increased.

Background: Melanoma arising from the scalp is rare and often diagnosed at advanced stages due to difficulty in detection. Objective: This is the first study that aimed to analyze the clinicopathological findings of scalp melanoma among Korean patients at a single institution. Methods: In this single-centered retrospective study, medical records were used to review data of patients with scalp melanoma between 2006 to 2021. Chronic sun damage (CSD) was evaluated by reviewing histopathological findings of scalp melanoma. Results: Fifteen patients were identified. Mean age at diagnosis was 53.93 years. In 14 cases, the tumors were located on hair-covered areas. Mean Breslow’s thickness was 6.06 mm. Nodular melanoma was the most common histologic type (n=9), followed by superficial spreading (n=5), and lentigo maligna (n=1). Ulceration was present in five cases. In nine cases, CSD was moderate. Elective neck node dissection was performed in 13 cases, with five revealing nodal involvement. At initial staging, three patients were in stage I, six were in stage II, four were in stage III, and two were in stage IV. Recurrence occurred in seven of the 15 cases. There were five confirmed mortalities during a mean follow-up period of 35 months. Conclusion In this study, the Breslow’s thickness of scalp melanoma was relatively deep, and the most frequent type was nodular melanoma. Since detection can be affected by black hair among Koreans, it may result in delayed diagnosis and poor prognosis. Therefore, more caution is needed when examining suspicious lesions on the scalp.