Purpose: We aimed to identify factors influencing smoking cessation success among cancer patients registered in an inpatient smoking cessation program at a single cancer center. Materials and Methods: The electronic medical records of enrolled patients with solid cancer were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated factors associated with 6-month smoking cessation. Results: A total of 458 patients with cancer were included in this study. Their mean age was 62.9±10.3 years, and 56.3% of the participants had lung cancer. 193 (42.1%) had not yet begun their main treatment. The mean number of counseling sessions for the participants was 8.4±3.5, and 46 (10.0%) patients were prescribed smoking cessation medications. The 6-month smoking cessation success rate was 48.0%. Multivariate analysis showed that younger age (<65 years), cohabited status, early stage, and the number of counseling sessions were statistically significant factors affecting 6-month smoking cessation success (p<0.05). Initiation of a cessation program before cancer treatment was significantly associated with cessation success (odds ratio, 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–2.70; p=0.040). Conclusion Smoking cessation intervention must be considered when establishing a treatment plan immediately after a cancer diagnosis among smokers.

Background and Objectives: Previous observational studies presented a positive association between alcohol and atrial fibrillation (AF). However, previous studies using genetic polymorphisms on the causal relationship between alcohol consumption and AF have reported conflicting results. This study aimed to evaluate the causality between alcohol consumption and AF using the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) rs671 polymorphism, which is the genetic variant with the most potent effect on drinking behavior. Methods: A total of 8,964 participants from the Dong-gu Study were included in the present study. The causal association between alcohol consumption and AF was evaluated through a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using the ALDH2 rs671 polymorphism as an instrumental variable. Results: No significant relationship between alcohol consumption and AF was found in the observational analysis. However, the genetic analysis using the ALDH2 polymorphism showed a significant association in men. In the MR analysis, genetically predicted daily alcohol consumption was positively related to AF. Conclusions MR analysis revealed a significant association between the amount of alcohol consumption and AF, which suggests that the association may be causal.

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is an easily accessible and valuable tool in clinical microbiology, which can be used for identifying novel and rare species. We isolated grampositive cocci from the blood of a pediatric patient, which could not be phenotypically identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) (BioMérieux, Marcy-l’Étoile, France). We could not identify the isolate to the species level using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing. WGS was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA); however, the subsequent genomic sequence database search using the TrueBac ID-Genome system (ChunLab, Inc., Seoul, Korea) did not yield any hits with an average nucleotide identity value > 95.0%, which is the cut-off for species-level identification. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the isolate belonged to a new Arsenicicoccus species, forming a subcluster with Arsenicicoccus bolidensis. Our data demonstrate that WGS allows a more accurate annotation of microbial genomes than other clinical microbiology tools, such as MALDITOF MS and 16S rRNA sequencing. This is the first report of the isolation of a novelArsenicicoccus species from a clinical sample.

PURPOSE: To compare the anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), anterior chamber angle (ACA) and refractive change after cataract surgery between 3-piece and 1-piece aspheric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. METHODS: The present study consisted of 16 patients (25 eyes) having 3-piece aspheric Tecnis(R) ZA9003 IOL and 21 patients (30 eyes) having 1-piece aspheric Tecnis(R) ZCB00 IOL. The ACD, ACV, and ACA were measured using an anterior eye segment analysis system (Pentacam, Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) preoperatively and postoperatively 1 week and 1 month. Refractive outcomes were evaluated using an autokeratometer. RESULTS: When comparing the 3-piece (Tecnis(R) ZA9003) and 1-piece (Tecnis(R) ZCB00) IOL with the same optic, ACD, ACV, and AVA increased significantly after cataract surgery. The 1-piece IOL showed deeper ACD than the 3-piece IOL at postoperative 1 week and 1 month. Postoperative refraction showed slight myopic shift compared with target diopter, but was stable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was significant increase in ACD, ACV, and ACA after cataract surgery in both IOL-inserted groups. Results showed stable refraction after cataract surgery in both groups. Consideration of the A-constant will be needed because of myopic change with the 1-piece IOL.
Anterior Chamber ; Anterior Eye Segment ; Cataract ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular

PURPOSE: To compare the anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), anterior chamber angle (ACA) and refractive change after cataract surgery between 3-piece and 1-piece aspheric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. METHODS: The present study consisted of 16 patients (25 eyes) having 3-piece aspheric Tecnis(R) ZA9003 IOL and 21 patients (30 eyes) having 1-piece aspheric Tecnis(R) ZCB00 IOL. The ACD, ACV, and ACA were measured using an anterior eye segment analysis system (Pentacam, Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) preoperatively and postoperatively 1 week and 1 month. Refractive outcomes were evaluated using an autokeratometer. RESULTS: When comparing the 3-piece (Tecnis(R) ZA9003) and 1-piece (Tecnis(R) ZCB00) IOL with the same optic, ACD, ACV, and AVA increased significantly after cataract surgery. The 1-piece IOL showed deeper ACD than the 3-piece IOL at postoperative 1 week and 1 month. Postoperative refraction showed slight myopic shift compared with target diopter, but was stable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was significant increase in ACD, ACV, and ACA after cataract surgery in both IOL-inserted groups. Results showed stable refraction after cataract surgery in both groups. Consideration of the A-constant will be needed because of myopic change with the 1-piece IOL.
Anterior Chamber ; Anterior Eye Segment ; Cataract ; Humans ; Lenses, Intraocular

Negative pressure pulmonary edema is a recognized complication of airway obstruction, particularly after endotracheal extubation. The application of oxygen therapy and continuous positive airway pressure with the administration of diuretics under a rapid diagnosis usually clears pulmonary edema. We report a case of 61-year-old man who developed negative pressure pulmonary edema following extubation after an endoscopic submucosal dissection under general anesthesia.
Airway Extubation ; Airway Obstruction ; Anesthesia, General ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Diuretics ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Edema

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is an uncommon soft-tissue sarcoma that occurs primarily in the extremities and rarely involves the retroperitoneum and abdomen. A 63-year-old man was admitted to the emergency room because of epigastric pain. Computed tomography revealed a large heterogeneous enhanced mass originating from the omentum with hemoperitoneum. The patient underwent laparoscopic omental mass excision and hematoma evacuation. Histological examination of the resected tumor revealed MFH. This case was therefore omental MFH presenting with hemoperitoneum.
Abdomen ; Emergencies ; Extremities ; Hematoma ; Hemoperitoneum ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Omentum ; Sarcoma

PURPOSE: Schnyder crystalline corneal dystrophy (SCCD) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by progressive central corneal opacification and premature development of peripheral arcus in the cornea. This disease results from a point mutation of UBIAD1 in chromosome 1p34-36. Until now, 15 different mutations of UBIAD1 gene on chromosome 1p34-36 have been reported for Schnyder crystalline corneal dystrophy. More point mutations are expected to be added to the list in the future. Schnyder crystalline corneal dystrophy is a rare disease, with only three reported cases in Korea, although there has been no report of a genetically confirmed case of the disease. CASE SUMMARY: We encountered six patients with an N102S mutation of UBIAD1, who are from a family of two generation with 12 family members. Genetic confirmation for Schnyder crystalline corneal dystrophy was performed on these patients. This was the first report of a genetic confirmation of Schnyder crystalline corneal dystrophy in Korea. We will discuss our cases along with a review of the related literature.
Cornea ; Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary ; Crystallins ; Humans ; Korea ; Point Mutation ; Rare Diseases

PURPOSE: To estimate the long-term therapeutic efficacy and safety of adefovir dipivoxil in children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis B who have developed lamivudine resistance. METHODS: Sixteen patients (12 boys and 4 girls; ages 4.3~20.9 years; mean age 14.2 years) with chronic hepatitis B infection resistant to lamivudine therapy received adefovir (0.3 mg/kg/day, maximal dose 10 mg) orally for at least 9 months between March 2004 and April 2008. Each patient was followed up for a mean period of 27 months (range 9~49 months) until April 2008 at Kyungpook National University Hospital in Korea. Therapeutic responses to adefovir were evaluated at 12, 24, 36, and 48 months from the initiation of therapy using the Kaplan-Meier method. Response measurements included ALT normalization, HBV DNA negativization, 2 log(10) IU/mL decrement of HBeAg titer, HBeAg loss, and HBeAg/Ab seroconversion rate. RESULTS: Three (18.8%) of the 16 patients treated with adefovir showed HBeAg/Ab seroconversion. Kaplan-Meier estimates of cumulative ALT normalization were 12.5% (12 months), 43.8% (24 months), 63.5% (36 months), and 92.7% (48 months), respectively. Cumulative HBV DNA negativization was 6.7%, 30.0%, 45.6%, and 78.2% at 12, 24, 36, and 48 months, respectively. Cumulative 2 log(10) copies/mL decrement of HBeAg titer was 12.5%, 43.8%, 56.3%, and 86.9% at 12, 24, 36, and 48 months, respectively. Cumulative HBeAg loss and HBeAg/Ab seroconversion were 6.7% (12 months) and 22.2% (24 months), respectively. CONCLUSION: The long-term therapeutic efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil was favorable in children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis B who had developed lamivudine resistance. The long-term use of adefovir should be safe in children.
Adenine ; Adolescent ; Child ; DNA ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Korea ; Lamivudine ; Organophosphonates

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Active bleeding and non-bleeding visible vessels in patients with bleeding peptic ulcer are associated with a high risk of rebleeding. The aim of our study was to define the risk factors associated with failure of endoscopic hemostasis and rebleeding in patients with active peptic ulcer bleeding. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 119 patients (90 men and 29 women; mean age, 60.14+/-14.67 years) with active peptic ulcer bleeding (spurting, oozing and/or non-bleeding visible vessel) and who were treated in Wonkwang Medical Center from January 2002 to January 2007. They were classified to endoscopic hemoclipping alone group (n=75) or endoscopic hemoclipping combined with epinephrine injection group (n=44), according to the therapeutic modality. RESULTS: Initial hemostasis was achieved in the two groups (100%), and permanent hemostasis was achieved 71.4% in all the patients. Operation was done in eight patients (6.7%), and six patients (5%) in the two groups, respectively, died within 1 month after initial hemostasis because of bleeding related complications. Recurrent bleeding, the duration of the hospital stay, blood transfusion requirements, complications and the operation and mortality rates were not statistically different between the hemoclip alone and combination groups. Univariate analysis showed that rebleeding was related to the presence of shock on admission (p=0.01), complication (p=0.00), the pulse rate (<100/min) on admission (p=0.04), single ulcer (p=0.032), the level of hemoglobin (<8 g/dL) (p=0.02) and the volume of transfusion (<3 units) after the procedure (p=0.005) in all the patients. On the multivariate analysis that was adjusted for age and gender, the hemoglobin level (<8 g/dL) (odds ratio = 10.5) was the only significant predictor for early rebleeding. CONCLUSIONS: This result may suggest that the combination method does not provide a substantial advantage over hemoclipping alone for the hemostatic management of active peptic ulcers bleeding. A low hemoglobin level on admission may be useful to predict rebleeding after initial endoscopic hemostasis in patients with active peptic ulcer. However, this study was designed retrospectively, so the comparison between these two groups should be re-evaluated prospectively in a large, multicenter trial.
Blood Transfusion ; Epinephrine ; Heart Rate ; Hemoglobins ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Hemostasis, Endoscopic ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nitro Compounds ; Peptic Ulcer ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Shock ; Ulcer