Background: An association between environmental pollutants and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) has not been determined until now. The objectives of this study were to examine the association of the pollutants with ALD, and whether the pollutants together increased the risk of ALD. Methods: Data were extracted from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2013 and 2016–2017; n = 11,993). Blood levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury were measured. ALD was defined by a combination of excessive alcohol consumption and ALDon-alcoholic fatty liver disease index > 0. The aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index and fibrosis (FIB)-4 score were used to evaluate ALD FIB. Results: The odds ratios (ORs) of ALD for the highest versus the lowest quartiles of exposure were for lead, 7.39 (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.51–9.91); cadmium, 1.68 (95% CI, 1.32–2.14); and mercury, 5.03 (95% CI, 3.88–6.53). Adjusting for age, gender, smoking, occupation, education, and personal income attenuated the associations but indicated significant positive trends (all P trend < 0.001). A positive additive interaction between cadmium and lead was observed. The relative excess OR due to the interaction was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.41–1.51); synergy index = 2.92 (95% CI, 0.97–8.80). Among 951 subjects with ALD, advanced FIB was associated with lead and cadmium (OR, 3.46, 95% CI, 1.84–6.53; OR, 8.50, 95% CI, 2.54–28.42, respectively), but not with mercury. The effect estimates for lead and cadmium remained significant even after adjustment for daily alcohol intake. Conclusion Blood levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury were significantly associated not only with the risk of ALD but also with ALD FIB. Cadmium and lead have synergistic effects that increase the risk of ALD.

Objective: Personal mobility vehicles (PMV) have been used widely as a means of replacing bicycles in recent yearsbecause of their convenience and high economic efficiency. On the other hand, accidents related to PMV are alsoincreasing, but there have been few studies in this area. This study examined the factors that increase the severity ofdamage and determine the characteristics of the PMV compared to the accidents on a bicycle. Methods: Retrospective observational studies were performed. The variables related to the accident were collected andanalyzed for patients who visited the emergency room due to a PMV and bicycle accident. Multivariate logistic regressionanalysis was used to determine the factors affecting the severity of the patients. The odds ratios were calculated andcompared between injuries related to PMV and bicycles. Results: A total of 1,124 patients (bicycles 1,017, PMV 107) were enrolled in this study. In multivariate regression analysis,the severity of PMV was higher (odds ratio [OR], 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-2.83) than that of a bicycle.The factors affecting the severity of the patients were age (OR, 1.02, 95% CI, 1.01-1.03), alcohol use (OR, 1,70; 95% CI,1.04-2.70), ambulance transport (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.78-3.40), and wearing a helmet (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.36-3.13). Conclusion PMV showed higher severity of damage than a bicycle. The PMV, which is a new transportation means, isinsufficient for the prevention of safety compared to bicycles where driving regulations and wearing protective equipmentare common. Additional studies on the precise mechanisms of injury and damage are expected to prevent accidents andreduce their severity.

Background/Aims: Data on the trends in the prevalence of chronic liver disease (CLD) in Korea are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate whether the CLD prevalence changed between 1998–2001 and 2016–2017. Methods: Data were extracted from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1998–2001 to 2016– 2017; n=25,893). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was defined as a hepatic steatosis index >36 in the absence of any other evidence of CLD. The definition of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) was excessive alcohol consumption (≥210 g/week for men and ≥140 g/week for women) and an ALD/NAFLD index >0. Results: The prevalence of NAFLD increased from 18.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.8–19.5%) in 1998–2001 to 21.5% (95% CI, 20.6–22.6%) in 2016–2017. During the same time period, increases were observed in the prevalence of obesity (27.0 vs. 35.1%), central obesity (29.4 vs. 36.0%), diabetes (7.5 vs. 10.6%), and excessive drinking (7.3 vs. 10.5%). ALD prevalence also increased from 3.8% (95% CI, 3.4–4.2%) to 7.0% (95% CI, 6.4–7.6%). In contrast, chronic hepatitis B decreased from 5.1% (95% CI, 4.6–5.5%) to 3.4% (95% CI, 3.0–3.8%). The prevalence of chronic hepatitis C was approximately 0.3% in 2016–2017. Conclusions The prevalence of NAFLD and ALD increase among Korean adults. Our results suggest potential targets for interventions to reduce the future burden of CLD.

Background: Several oncoplastic approaches have been implemented in recent years to enhance cosmetic results and to reduce complications. The round block technique is a volume displacement technique for breast reconstruction after breast-conserving surgery (BCS). However, its indications are currently limited according to tumor location, and its cosmetic results and complications have not been clearly established. We hypothesized that the round block technique could produce favorable cosmetic results without major complications regardless of tumor location or nipple-tumor distance, below a certain resected tumor volume and tumor-breast volume ratio. Methods: All breast reconstructions using the round block technique after BCS were included in this analysis. Patients’ data were reviewed retrospectively to investigate complications during follow-up, and clinical photos were used to evaluate cosmetic results. The relationships of tumor location, nipple-tumor distance, tumor volume, and the tumor-breast volume ratio with cosmetic results were investigated. Results: In total, 108 breasts were reconstructed. The mean resected tumor volume was 30.2±15.0 mL. The cosmetic score was 4.5±0.6 out of 5. Tumor location, nipple-tumor distance, tumor volume, tumor-breast volume ratio, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy had no significant effects on cosmetic results or complications. There were no major complications requiring reoperation. Conclusions Breast reconstruction using the round block technique after BCS can lead to good cosmetic results without major complications regardless of the tumor location, nipple-tumor distance, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. Below the maximum tumor volume (79.2 mL) and the maximum tumor-breast volume ratio (14%), favorable results were consistently obtained.

Objective: No studies have evaluated the diagnostic value of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) for the early detection of sepsis/septic shock in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). We aimed to assess the usefulness of IMA in diagnosing sepsis/septic shock in the ED. Methods: This retrospective, observational study analyzed IMA, lactate, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin levels measured within 1 hour of ED arrival. Patients with suspected infection meeting at least two systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria were included and classified into the infection, sepsis, and septic shock groups using Sepsis-3 definitions. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine diagnostic performance. Results: This study included 300 adult patients. The AUC (95% CI) of IMA levels (cut-off ≥85.5 U/mL vs. ≥87.5 U/mL) was higher for the diagnosis of sepsis than for that of septic shock (0.729 [0.667–0.791] vs. 0.681 [0.613–0.824]) and was higher than the AUC of procalcitonin levels (cut-off ≥1.58 ng/mL, 0.678 [0.613–0.742]) for the diagnosis of sepsis. When IMA and lactate levels were combined, the AUCs were 0.815 (0.762–0.867) and 0.806 (0.754–0.858) for the diagnosis of sepsis and septic shock, respectively. IMA levels independently predicted sepsis (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.00–1.09; P=0.029) and septic shock (odds ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02–1.11; P=0.002). Conclusion Our findings indicate that IMA levels are a useful biomarker for diagnosing sepsis/ septic shock early, and their combination with lactate levels can enhance the predictive power for early diagnosis of sepsis/septic shock in the ED.

PURPOSE: Computed tomography (CT) scan is an effective modality for detecting fatal traumatic brain injury. However, radiation exposure from CT can increase the risk of cancer, and children are more vulnerable to radiation than adults. We aimed to investigate the effect of introducing the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) rule to the emergency department (ED).METHODS: Medical records of children younger than 2 years with minor head injury who visited ED from January 2013 to June 2015 were reviewed. We started the education of radiation hazard and the PECARN rule in January 2014. The children were divided into pre- and post- education groups. The baseline characteristics, CT rate, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. The safety and efficacy of CT were defined as patients who received head CT scan per those experiencing clinically important traumatic brain injury (ciTBI) and patients without CT scan per those without ciTBI, respectively.RESULTS: Of 911 patients, 360 (39.5%) visited during the post-education period. Median age was 16.0 months (interquartile range, 11.0–20.0 months), and boys accounted for 58.5%. CT rate was reduced from 40.5% to 12.8% (P < 0.001). There was no difference in ciTBI rates between the two groups (1.3% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.622). The safety was 100% in both periods and the efficacy increased from 52.9% to 88.7%.CONCLUSION: We have seen a significant decrease in CT rate through the education of the PECARN rule. After its introduction, CT use was reduced, and the efficacy was improved without decrease in the safety.
Adult ; Brain Injuries ; Brain ; Child ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Education ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Head ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Pediatrics ; Radiation Exposure ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To investigate the age group characteristics of children who visited the emergency department with acute poisoning by ingestion. METHODS: We reviewed children under 19 years who visited the emergency department for acute poisoning by ingestion from 2012 to 2017. The children were divided into 3 age groups; infants (0-1 years), preschoolers (2-5 years), and schoolers (6-18 years). Clinical characteristics, intentional ingestion, involved substances (drugs, household products, artificial substances, and pesticides), decontamination and antidote therapy, and outcomes of the 3 age groups were compared. We also performed multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with hospitalization. RESULTS: A total of 622 children with acute poisoning by ingestion were analyzed. Their annual proportions to overall pediatric emergency patients ranged from 0.3% to 0.4%. Age distribution showed bimodal peaks at 0-2 years and 15-17 years. The infants showed lower frequency of girls, intentional ingestion, ingestion of drugs, performance of decontamination and antidote therapy, and hospitalization than 2 older groups (P < 0.001). Most decontamination, antidote therapy, and hospitalization occurred in the schoolers (P < 0.001). The most frequently reported substances were household cleaning substances in the infants (18.2%), antihistamines in the preschoolers (15.8%), and analgesics in the schoolers (37.5%). The factors associated with hospitalization were intentional ingestion (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 7.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.85-17.61; P = 0.001) and schoolers (aOR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.10-7.53; P = 0.031; compared with infants). Only 1 in-hospital mortality was found in a boy aged 2 years who ingested methomyl. CONCLUSION: Infants may experience non-intentional ingestion, ingestion of non-pharmacologic substances (especially household cleaning substances), discharge without decontamination and antidote therapy more frequently than older children. Thus, we need age group-specific, preventive and therapeutic plans for children with acute poisoning.
Adolescent ; Age Distribution ; Analgesics ; Child ; Decontamination ; Eating ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Epidemiology ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Histamine Antagonists ; Hospital Mortality ; Hospitalization ; Household Products ; Humans ; Infant ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Methomyl ; Odds Ratio ; Poisoning

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports the status of the advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) according to the guidelines by residents belonging to other departments other than the department of emergency medicine. The differences in status between the junior group and senior group was also investigated according to grades of residents. METHODS: The ACLS performance for in-hospital cardiac arrest cases of one academic hospital, except for the cases occurring in intensive care unit between November 2015 and October 2017, were analyzed retrospectively. Data included the characteristics of residents, patients' outcomes, ACLS performance, and conventional treatment having discordance with the ACLS guidelines. Leaders during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were divided into a junior group and senior group. RESULTS: A total of 152 cases were enrolled in this study. Of these, 131 cases (86.2%) showed at least one treatment with inconsistency from the guidelines and the incidence of discordant treatment was similar in the two groups (55 [85.9%] vs. 76 [88.4%], P=0.657). Implicit use of sodium bicarbonate was more frequent in the senior residents group (odds ratio [OR], 3.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36–6.81). On the other hand, no use of a defibrillator was less frequent in the senior residents group (OR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.03–0.81). CONCLUSION: In both groups, the rate of discordance with the ACLS guidelines during CPR were high. The rate of implicit use of sodium bicarbonate and no use of defibrillator were significantly different in the two groups. A customized education strategy for ACLS is needed for each group.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support* ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Defibrillators ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medicine* ; Hand ; Heart Arrest* ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Retrospective Studies ; Sodium Bicarbonate

Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS) is a pseudohermaphroditism in males characterized by the presence of Müllerian duct derivatives. As PMDS dogs often lack clinical symptoms, a molecular diagnosis is essential to identify the syndrome in these animals. In this study, a new molecular method using DNA mismatch-specific Surveyor nuclease was developed. The Surveyor nuclease assay identified the AMHR2 mutation that produced PMDS in a Miniature Schnauzer as accurately as that obtained by using the conventional method based on restriction digestion. As an alternative to the current molecular diagnostic method, the new method may result in increased accuracy when detecting PMDS.
Animals ; Diagnosis ; Digestion ; Disorders of Sex Development ; DNA ; Dogs ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Pathology, Molecular

Mirizzi syndrome is a rare complication, resulting in bile duct obstruction and jaundice that usually arise from impacted gallstone in the cystic duct or neck of the gallbladder. It is vitally important to confirm underlying cystic duct anomaly in Mirizzi syndrome since it can produce surgical difficulty and higher complications. Generally, Mirizzi syndrome is treated surgically while endoscopic treatment is limited. Herein, we present Mirizzi syndrome with low lying cystic duct and remnant cyst duct calculi treated successfully by biliary stent and administration of choleretic agent, following by balloon dilatation on cystic duct and balloon extraction of the stone.
Calculi ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Cholestasis ; Cystic Duct* ; Deception* ; Dilatation ; Gallbladder ; Gallstones ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Mirizzi Syndrome* ; Neck ; Stents