Objective: Dysphagia is a common clinical condition characterized by difficulty in swallowing. It is sub-classified into oropharyngeal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the mouth and pharynx, and esophageal dysphagia, which refers to problems in the esophageal body and esophagogastric junction. Dysphagia can have a significant negative impact one’s physical health and quality of life as its severity increases. Therefore, proper assessment and management of dysphagia are critical for improving swallowing function and preventing complications. Thus a guideline was developed to provide evidence-based recommendations for assessment and management in patients with dysphagia. Methods: Nineteen key questions on dysphagia were developed. These questions dealt with various aspects of problems related to dysphagia, including assessment, management, and complications. A literature search for relevant articles was conducted using Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and one domestic database of KoreaMed, until April 2021. The level of evidence and recommendation grade were established according to the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. Results: Early screening and assessment of videofluoroscopic swallowing were recommended for assessing the presence of dysphagia. Therapeutic methods, such as tongue and pharyngeal muscle strengthening exercises and neuromuscular electrical stimulation with swallowing therapy, were effective in improving swallowing function and quality of life in patients with dysphagia. Nutritional intervention and an oral care program were also recommended. Conclusion This guideline presents recommendations for the assessment and management of patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia, including rehabilitative strategies.

This study was conducted to analyze the effects of beverages on tooth corrosion by selecting drinks that are enjoyed by modern people. Drinks were selected for carbonated beverages (Coca Cola), energy drinks (Red Bull), orange juice, beer (Hite) and water (Evian). Bovine tooth was immersed for 1 hour, 24 hours and 48 hours. The root mean square (RMS) values were obtained by scanning the bovine tooth at pre-immersion and immersion time after impression making. Two-way ANOVA, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey-test were used to compare differences between groups (α=0.05). The RMS value tended to increase with longer immersion times in all beverages, and there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between before immersion-1hr and before immersion-48 hr. The mean of RMS according to the type of beverage was significantly different and there was a significant difference according to the change of immersion time (p < 0.05). In order to prevent tooth corrosion, it is necessary to change the method of ingestion or to reduce the time of ingestion.
Beer ; Beverages ; Carbonated Beverages ; Citrus sinensis ; Corrosion ; Eating ; Energy Drinks ; Immersion ; Methods ; Tooth ; Water

PURPOSE: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory relapsing skin disorder. Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in the development of AD, and interleukin (IL) 31 is known to be related to pruritus in AD. The aim of our study was to determine whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels are related to IL-31 levels or to the severity of AD. METHODS: We enrolled 91 children with AD and 32 control subjects without history or symptoms of allergic diseases. Blood was drawn to evaluate complete blood cell count, total eosinophil count (TEC), and total IgE, specific IgE to common allergens, 25(OH)D, and IL-31 levels. Serum 25(OH)D and IL-31 levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index was used to evaluate the severity of AD. RESULTS: The mean 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in the AD group than in the control group; 25(OH)D decreased greatly in the moderate and severe AD groups compared with the mild AD group. Children with atopic sensitization showed significantly lower 25(OH)D levels than nonatopic children. However, serum IL-31 levels were not related to AD group, SCORAD index, or 25(OH)D levels. The SCORAD index was inversely correlated with serum 25(OH)D level and positively correlated with TECs and total IgE levels. Children with moderate and severe AD had significantly higher TECs than children with mild AD. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D is related to the severity of AD independently of IL-31.
Allergens ; Blood Cell Count ; Child* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Interleukins ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Vitamin D

Pulmonary hemorrhage as the initial manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been rarely reported in children. We present the case of a 10-year-old girl who was admitted to Kangbuk Samsung Hospital with hemoptysis. She had a 5-day history of cough with dyspnea. On physical exam, breath sound was significantly decreased combined with rales on both lung fields. Blood tests revealed pancytopenia, decreased complement levels (C3, 21.28 mg/dL; C4, 3.10 mg/dL), positive antinuclear antibody (>1:640) and anti-double-stranded DNA antibody (262.5 IU/mL). Chest computed tomography revealed patchy ground glass opacity on both lung fields. She had proteinuria and diffuse lupus nephritis (International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society class IV-G(A)) confirmed by renal biopsy. High-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy (30 mg/kg/day) was given for 3 days and then switched to a maintenance dose (1 mg/kg/day). Initially hemoptysis resolved after administration of methylprednisolone, but recurred on the 14th day of treatment. She was then treated with cyclophosphamide pulse therapy and hemoptysis subsided without recurrence. She was discharged on the 31st day of admission. She continued to receive monthly cyclophosphamide pulse therapy until the occurrence of leukopenia and then her regimen was switched to mycophenolate and hydroxychloroquine. SLE continues to be well controlled after 18 months of treatment. Recognition of pulmonary hemorrhage as a possible initial manifestation of SLE is crucial for early diagnosis. SLE was successfully treated with good outcome.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Biopsy ; Child ; Complement System Proteins ; Cough ; Cyclophosphamide ; DNA ; Dyspnea ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Glass ; Hematologic Tests ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine ; Leukopenia ; Lung ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Lupus Nephritis ; Methylprednisolone ; Pancytopenia ; Pathology ; Pediatrics ; Proteinuria ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Sounds ; Thorax

PURPOSE: A nationwide outbreak of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MP) refractory to macrolide antibiotics occurred in Korea during 2011. Steroid therapy has been reported to be both efficacious and well tolerated in pediatric patients with refractory MP. We compared clinical features and laboratory characteristics between children with refractory MP requiring steroid treatment and those with macrolide-responsive MP and evaluated the risk factors associated with refractory MP. METHODS: We investigated 203 children who were admitted to our institution with MP from June to November 2011. Refractory MP was defined by persistent fever over 38.3degrees C with progressive pulmonary consolidation or pleural effusion despite administration of appropriate macrolide antibiotics for 5 days or longer after admission. Steroid therapy was initiated on the fifth day after admission for refractory cases. RESULTS: There were 26 patients with refractory MP requiring steroid therapy. The mean duration of steroid therapy was 5.4 days and most of the patients were afebrile within 24 hours after initiation of steroid therapy. The prevalence of refractory MP was higher in patients with pleural effusion, lobar pneumonia affecting more than 2 lobes, higher levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase, increased oxygen requirements, and longer duration of hospitalization. Atopic sensitization and history of asthma were also associated with refractory MP after adjusting for age and gender. CONCLUSION: Children with refractory MP had more severe pneumonia. Atopic sensitization and history of asthma may be risk factors for refractory MP requiring steroid therapy in Korean children.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Asthma* ; Child* ; Fever ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Mycoplasma ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Oxygen ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

With the increasing use of pancreatic duct (PD) stents after endoscopic papillectomy (EP), complications such as proximal migration of the stent have become increasingly prevalent. A PD stent that migrates within a nondilated PD may be difficult to remove endoscopically. We performed endoscopic retrieval of proximally migrated PD stents after EP in 5 patients. Endoscopic retrieval was performed immediately after EP in one patient, the next day in 3 patients, and 2 weeks later in one patient. Wire-guided endoscopic retrieval was attempted in 4 patients, and the migrated stents were removed successfully in these 4 patients. No significant procedure-related complications occurred, other than mild pancreatitis in a single patient. In one patient, endoscopic retrieval performed immediately after EP failed when using the conventional method, and the migrated stent was removed using a minisnare without a guidewire the next day; this patient developed severe pancreatitis. Wire-guided endoscopic snare retrieval seems to be a safe and effective method for removing proximally migrated PD stents after EP.
Adenoma ; Humans ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis ; SNARE Proteins ; Stents

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Sustained HBV DNA reduction is necessary for biochemical remission, histological improvement, and prevention of complications. We analyzed the time taken from HBV DNA loss to viral breakthrough after antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The early fall of the HBV DNA level to undetectable levels assessed really whether it is related to late breakthrough. METHODS: A total of 91 patients whose HBV DNA levels dropped below undetectable levels were chosen from lamivudine-treated 306 patients and were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into 4 groups (A< or =12, 1248 wk) according to the time taken for the HBV DNA to decrease below undetectable levels. HBV DNA level was determined every 3 months. RESULTS: The mean time taken for loss of HBV DNA was 34+/-28 wk. The baseline ALT differed significantly among groups (A: 382+/-274, B: 340+/-30, C: 166+/-92, D: 54+/-100 IU/L) (p=0.007). Fifty nine of the 91 patients (64.8%) experienced viral breakthrough. The mean interval between HBV DNA loss and viral breakthrough was 65+/-40 wk and differed significantly between group A, B (82+/-43 wk) and group C, D (56+/-28 wk) (p=0.015). In multivariate analysis, only HBV DNA loss within 24 wk, was found to be independently associated with late viral breakthrough (p=0.035). Undetectable HBV DNA after 24 wk was associated with high odd ratio of 3.24 (95% CI, 1.09-9.67). CONCLUSIONS: HBV DNA loss within 24 wk after antiviral treatment could predict the late breakthrough.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus/*isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy/*virology ; Humans ; Lamivudine/therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; *Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We investigated the frequency of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive individuals and the effects of occult HBV infection on the severity of liver disease. METHODS: Seventy-one hepatitis B virus surface-antigen (HBsAg)-negative patients were divided according to their HBV serological status into groups A (anti-HBc positive, anti-HBs negative; n=18), B (anti-HBc positive, anti-HBs positive; n=34), and C (anti-HBc negative, anti-HBs positive/negative; n=19), and by anti-HCV positivity (anti-HCV positive; n=32 vs. anti-HCV negative; n=39). Liver biopsy samples were taken, and HBV DNA was quantified by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Intrahepatic HBV DNA was detected in 32.4% (23/71) of the entire cohort, and HBV DNA levels were invariably low in the different groups. Occult HBV infection was detected more frequently in the anti-HBc-positive patients. Intrahepatic HBV DNA was detected in 28.1% (9/32) of the anti-HCV-positive and 35.9% (14/39) of the anti-HCV-negative subjects. The HCV genotype did not affect the detection rate of intrahepatic HBV DNA. In anti-HCV-positive cases, occult HBV infection did not affect liver disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of intrahepatic HBV DNA were detected frequently in both HBsAg-negative and anti-HCV-positive cases. However, the frequency of occult HBV infection was not affected by the presence of hepatitis C, and occult HBV infection did not have a significant effect on the disease severity of hepatitis C.
Adult ; Aged ; Cohort Studies ; DNA, Viral/analysis ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B/*complications/*diagnosis ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens/blood/immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood/immunology ; Hepatitis B virus/*genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/*complications/genetics/*pathology ; Humans ; Liver/virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Severity of Illness Index

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the degree of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression in chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. METHODS: COX-2 protein expression was evaluated in 43 cases of chronic hepatitis and 24 cases of cirrhosis using immunohistochemical techniques. The COX-2 immunohistochemical staining score was assessed using the scoring systems of Pazirandeh et al and Qiu et al. and each scoring system was based on a sum of the parameters of staining intensity and distribution. RESULTS: The mean COX-2 expression scores in chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis were 2.5 +/- 1.3 vs. 3.3 +/- 1.1 (p = 0.008), and 3.2 +/- 2.0 vs. 4.5 +/- 1.7 (p = 0.006), respectively, based on the Pazirandeh et al. and Qiu et al. scoring systems. The percentage samples of high COX-2 expression score (4 to 5) in chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis were 16.3% vs. 45.8% (p = 0.022), and 23.3% vs. 50% (p = 0.021), respectively, based on the two scoring systems. The mean COX-2 expression scores based on the severity of hepatic fibrosis scored using Ishak's modified staging system (fibrosis score 0 to 3 vs. 4 to 6) were 2.4 +/- 1.3 vs. 3.2 +/- 1.1 (p = 0.009), and 3.1 +/- 2.0 vs. 4.3 +/- 1.8 (p = 0.009), respectively, based on the two scoring systems. CONCLUSIONS: COX-2 expression was significantly higher in liver cirrhosis group than in chronic hepatitis. COX-2 expression scores according to Ishak's staging was significantly higher in the advanced fibrosis group. COX-2 may play a role in the progression of hepatic fibrosis.
Adult ; Aged ; Cyclooxygenase 2/analysis/*physiology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Hepatitis, Chronic/enzymology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Cirrhosis/drug therapy/*enzymology ; Male ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of calcium and vitamin D to the titanium implant osseointegration in the osteoporosis-induced animal model. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty-two rats, 10 weeks of age, were divided into two groups: experimental group was ingested additional calcium and vitamin D, and a control group was not. Titanium screw implant(diameter, 2.0 mm; length, 3.5 mm; pitch-height 0.4 mm) were placed into tibia of 32 rats, 16 in the control group and 16 in the experimental group. The rats were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after implantation for histopathologic examination, histomorphometric analysis and immunohistochemistry with fibronectin and collagen type I antibody. RESULT: In histopathological findings, newly formed bone was seen at 2 weeks and became lamellar bone at 4 weeks, and mature trabecullar bone was seen at 8 weeks in experimental group. In control group, thickness of regenerated bone increased till 4 weeks gradually and trabecullar bone was seen at 8 weeks. In histomorphometric analysis, marrow bone density increased significantly in experimental group compared to control group. Fibronectin immunoreactivity was strong at 2 weeks in experimental group and reduced after 4 weeks gradually. But it was maintained continuously from 2 to 8 weeks in control group. Collagen type I immunoreactivity was very strong from 2 to 4 week in experimental group. And the amount of Collagen type I expression was more abundant in experimental group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that calcium and vitamin D supplementation promote bone healing around titanium implants in osteoporosis induced animals.
Animals ; Bone Density ; Bone Marrow ; Calcium ; Collagen Type I ; Fibronectins ; Immunohistochemistry ; Models, Animal ; Osseointegration ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis ; Rats ; Tibia ; Titanium ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins