Background: Coronary artery disease patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) often exhibit reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, the impact of LV dysfunction status in conjunction with platelet reactivity on clinical outcomes has not been previously investigated. Methods: From the multicenter PTRG-DES (Platelet function and genoType-Related long-term prognosis in DES-treated patients) consortium, the patients were classified as preserved-EF (PEF: LVEF ≥ 50%) and reduced-EF (REF: LVEF< 5 0%) group by echocardiography. Platelet reactivity was measured using VerifyNow P2Y 12 assay and high platelet reactivity (HPR) was defined as PRU ≥ 252. The major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) were a composite of death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis and stroke at 5 years after PCI. Major bleeding was defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium bleeding types 3–5. Results: A total of 13,160 patients from PTRG-DES, 9,319 (79.6%) patients with the results of both PRU and LVEF were analyzed. The incidence of MACCE and major bleeding was higher in REF group as compared with PEF group (MACCEs: hazard ratio [HR] 2.17, P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.85–2.55; major bleeding: HR 1.78, P < 0.001, 95% CI 1.39–2.78).The highest rate of MACCEs was found in patients with REF and HPR, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (HR 3.14 in REF(+)/HPR(+) vs. PEF(+)/HPR(-) group,P <0.01, 95% CI 2.51–3.91). The frequency of major bleeding was not associated with the HPR in either group. Conclusion LV dysfunction was associated with an increased incidence of MACCEs and major bleeding in patients who underwent PCI. The HPR status further exhibited significant increase of MACCEs in patients with LV dysfunction in a large, real-world registry.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04734028

Purpose: Tetracycline is not recommended for children under 12 by guideline due to the risk of tooth discoloration. We aimed to assess the incidence of dental discoloration in Korean children prescribed tetracyclines and investigate whether its risk was greater in tetracyclineexposed children than in the general population. Methods: This population-based cohort study using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment service database included children aged 0–12 years exposed to tetracyclines for at least 1 day between January 2008 and December 2020. The primary outcome was the incidence rate of dental discoloration ≥6 months after prescription, and the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was evaluated as secondary outcome. Results: 56,990 children were included—1,735 and 55,255 aged <8 and 8–12 years, respectively. 61% children were prescribed tetracycline for <14 days with mostly secondgeneration tetracyclines, doxycycline (61%) and minocycline (35%). The 5- and 10-year cumulative incidence rates of dental discoloration were 4.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.0–5.7%) and 5.7% (95% CI, 4.1% to 7.8%), respectively, in the 0–7 years age group and 0.8% (95% CI, 0.7% to 0.9%) and 1.3 (95% CI, 1.1% to 1.4%), respectively, in the 8–12 years age group. Tetracycline exposure did not increase such risk compared to that in the general population (SIR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.69 to 1.60). Conclusions The incidence of dental discoloration was lower than previously suggested.Relieving the age restriction for prescribing tetracyclines may be considered.

This was a clinical trial study to aid the recovery of elderly female alcoholic liver disease patients by providing a balanced nutritional supplement comprising soymilk. All patients gave their consent before enrolling. The average demographics of the subjects were age 81.57 years, height 150.43 cm, weight 52.67 kg, and body mass index 24.15 kg/m2 . An increase in the daily consumption of fruits and fruit juice was observed after the patients had started taking the balanced meal as compared to before. Intakes of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and cholesterol decreased after consuming soymilk, whereas vitamin B 12, niacin, folic acid, and dietary fiber significantly increased (P<0.05). Blood cholesterol and BUN levels showed a decreasing tendency.Our results indicate that consuming soymilk in a balanced diet for female patients afflicted with alcoholic liver disease helps improve their nutritional status by increasing the nutrients lacking in the body.

Purpose: To examine the risk of dental abnormalities after exposure to tetracycline and its derivatives (TCs) in Korean children. Materials and Methods: Children aged 0–17 years with a claim for prescriptions of TCs between 2002 and 2015 were identified from the Sample Research Database 2.0 of the National Health Insurance Service. Children not exposed to TCs were selected as the control group by matching sex and age (1:4). Cumulative incidence rate and relative risk of dental abnormalities after TCs exposure were investigated. Results: The 10-year cumulative incidence rate in the 0–12 years group was 3.1% [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.3–3.9]. The 10-year cumulative incidence rates were 7.0%, 1.9%, and 1.6% in the 0–7, 8–12, and 13–17 years age groups (95% CI: 4.7–9.3, 1.2–2.6, and 1.3–1.9, respectively). There was no significant difference in the risk of dental abnormalities according to TC exposure among the age groups of 0–7 years [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)=1.0], 8–12 years (aHR=1.1), and 13–17 years (aHR=1.2). Conclusion Short-term exposure to TCs does not appear to increase the risk of dental abnormalities in children aged 0–7 and 0–12 years. Restrictions on the use of TCs in children aged 8–12 years, in some countries, may warrant consideration.

We report a 29-year-old female with a one-month history of non-healing multiple erythematous to violaceous plaques with crusts over both legs and feet. Tender, scarring ulcers with surrounding erythema were present. The clinical manifestation, together with histopathologic findings of fibrinoid plugs within vascular lumens and walls, as well as red blood cell extravasation, led to diagnosis of livedoid vasculopathy.The patient experienced recurrent painful violaceous plaques with ulcerations during the two years of treatment with oral pentoxifylline 400 mg three times daily. The cutaneous lesions and symptoms dramatically improved after the treatment regimen changed to oral sulodexide (250 lipasemic units) three times daily. Sulodexide, a highly purified mixture of glycosaminoglycans including dermatan sulfate and lowmolecular weight heparin, could be an effective therapy for recalcitrant livedoid vasculopathy. Herein, we report a case of livedoid vasculopathy treated with sulodexide, which has not previously been reported.

Zika is a re-emerging, mosquito-borne viral infection, which has been recently shown to cause microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Since 2015 the number of infected patients has increased significantly in South America. The purpose of this study was to identify the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of patients with Zika virus (ZIKV) infections in Korea. Patients who had visited areas of risk and tested positive in the ZIKV reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in blood, urine, or saliva specimens were included. The first Korean case of ZIKV infection was reported in March 2016, and 14 cases had been reported by October 2016. The median age of the patients was 34 years (19–64 years). Ten patients had been exposed in Southeast Asia and 4 in Latin America. Rash was the most common symptom (92.9%; 13/14), followed by myalgia (50.0%; 7/14), and arthralgia (28.6%, 4/14). There were no neurologic abnormalities and none of the patients was pregnant. Results of biochemical tests were normal. Positivity rates of RT-PCR for ZIKV in serum, urine, and saliva were 53.8%, 100.0%, and 83.3%, respectively in the first week of symptoms. In conclusion, 14 patients with ZIKV infections were reported in Korea by October 2016 and all of them had mild clinical symptoms.
Arthralgia ; Asia, Southeastern ; Epidemiology* ; Exanthema ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; Humans ; Korea* ; Latin America ; Microcephaly ; Myalgia ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Saliva ; South America ; Virus Shedding ; Zika Virus*

This study was conducted to derive core and detailed competencies of dental hygienists to be utilized as educational targets to be reached by graduation as well as basic data that can be reflected in the development and improvement of dental hygiene curricula. This study analyzed publication reports from the Korean Dental Hygienists Association, the International Federation of Dental Hygienists, the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and the American Dental Education Association. Based on the academic classification system for dental hygiene studies, the components of core and detailed competencies of dental hygiene school at the time of graduation were extracted and developed through expert panel discussions. This study defined competencies at the graduation level of dental hygiene school and derived eight core competencies and their 52 detailed competencies to serve as educational objectives from four areas: professionalism, communication, clinical practice, and community and health promotion. In the future, it will be necessary to conduct self-assessments of competencies based on those developed in this study, at time of the graduation from dental hygiene school, as well as to continuously develop competency-based curricula according to entry level, knowledge level, and graduation level. Thus, it is urgently necessary to develop a system that can evaluate the competencies of dental hygienists after graduation and put this system into practical use.
Accreditation ; Classification ; Competency-Based Education ; Curriculum ; Dental Hygienists ; Education, Dental ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Oral Hygiene* ; Professionalism ; Publications ; Self-Assessment

PURPOSE: To evaluate the tensile strength and repair-site profile of a technique of resorbable barbed suture tenorrhaphy. METHODS: Forty-eight flexor digitorum profundus tendons were collected from the 8 adult cadavers. In the test group, the tendons were sutured using absorbent 2-0 barb knotless sutures in a 2-strand or 4-strand zig-zag pattern. In the control group, 2-0 Prolene and 3-0 polydioxanone (PDS) were used to suture the tendons using the 2-stand Modified Kessler method and the 4-strand cruciate suture method. Using a tensile force measurement machine, the breaking load (N) and the stiffness (N/mm) were measured. The types of rupture were categorized into suture breaking, knot rupture, and pullout. RESULTS: In the comparative analysis between the absorbent 2-0 Quill (Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Canada) suture that used the 2-strand core suture and the 3-0 PDS and 2-0 Prolene sutures, the average breaking load for the 2-0 Quill suture was 26.83±7.47 N, and 21.96±6.78 N and 17.20±4.93 N for the 2-0 Prolene and 3-0 PDS sutures. In the comparison using the 4-strand core suture, the average breaking load for the 2-0 Quill suture was 62.50±13.34 N, and 22.35±5.72 N and 18.67±4.27 N for the 2-0 prolene and 3-0 PDS sutures. The most common type of rupture were knot rupture. CONCLUSION: For flexor tendon sutures using the absorbent barb sutures, compared to the conventional 2-0 Prolene or 3-0 PDS sutures, absorbent barbed sutures have a higher tensile strength.
Adult ; Cadaver ; Humans ; Methods ; Polydioxanone ; Polypropylenes ; Rupture ; Sutures* ; Tendons ; Tensile Strength

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of the most difficult pain syndromes to treat. Invasive treatments may be considered when patients fail to obtain adequate pain relief from noninvasive treatment approaches. Here, we present three cases of PHN in the mandibular branch treated with ultrasound-assisted mental nerve block and pulsed radiofrequency treatment. None of the patients had adequate pain relief from the medical therapy, so we performed the mental nerve block on the affected side under ultrasound assistance. Two patients showed satisfactory pain relief continuously over 12 months without any further interventions, whereas one patient only had short-term pain relief. For the patient had short-term pain relief we performed pulsed radiofrequency treatment (PRFT) on the left mental nerve under ultrasound assistance. After PRFT, the patient had adequate pain relief for 6 months and there was no need for further management.
Humans ; Nerve Block* ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic* ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment* ; Ultrasonography

This study was initiated in order to investigate the anticancer and immunomodulating activities of crude polysaccharides extracted in methanol, neutral saline, and hot water (hereinafter referred to as Fr. MeOH, Fr. NaCl, and Fr. HW, respectively) from the fruiting bodies of Panellus serotinus. Content of beta-glucan and protein in Fr. MeOH, Fr. NaCl, and Fr. HW extracts of P. serotinus ranged from 22.92~28.52 g/100 g and 3.24~3.68 g/100 g, respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity tests, none of the various fractions of crude polysaccharides were cytotoxic against sarcoma 180, HT-29, NIH3T3, and RAW 264.7 cell lines at the tested concentration. Intraperitoneal injection with crude polysaccharides resulted in a life prolongation effect of 23.53~44.71% in mice previously inoculated with sarcoma 180. Treatment with Fr. HW resulted in an increase in the numbers of spleen cells by 1.3 fold at the concentration of 50 microg/mL compared with control. Treatment with Fr. NaCl resulted in improvement of the immuno-potentiating activity of B lymphocytes by increasing the alkaline phosphatase activity by 1.4 fold, compared with control, at the concentration of 200 microg/mL. Among the three fractions, maximum nitric oxide (13.48 microM) was recorded at 500 microg/mL in Fr. HW. Production of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1beta, and interleukin-6 was significantly higher, compared to the positive control, concanavalin A, at the tested concentration. Therefore, treatment with crude polysaccharides extracted from the fruiting body of P. serotinus could result in improvement of antitumor activity.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Cell Line ; Concanavalin A ; Fruit ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Interleukin-1beta ; Interleukin-6 ; Life Support Care ; Methanol ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; Polysaccharides ; Sarcoma 180 ; Spleen ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Water