Background: We aimed to clarify the safety and efficacy of simultaneous skin exposure to blue, red, and infrared light. The purpose of this study was to confirm the mechanism by which multiple wavelengths increase hair development both in vivo and in vitro. Methods: Cultured human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) were exposed to a 470/655/850 nm light-emitting diode (LED) array with a fixed energy density of 3.0 mW/cm 2 . We analyzed alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and activity. The relative expressions of ALP, VEGF, Shh, and OPN3 were examined using reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction arrays 48 hours post-exposure and the protein levels related to extracellular signalregulated kinase (ERK)/protein kinase B (AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3)β signaling were assessed by western blotting. Next, we used H&E staining, hair growth scoring, skin thickness measurement, and the immunohistochemical analysis of the dorsal skin of C57BL/6 mice to investigate the effects of the mono- or combined-photobiomodulation (PBM) groups. Results: According to our findings, simultaneous irradiation with multi-wavelength LEDs at 470/655/850 nm increased the proliferation of hDPCs. Also, compared to the control group, the red wavelength and combined PBM groups had significantly improved skin thickness measurements. Overall, we concluded that the combined PBM therapy successfully induced the early onset of anagen and stimulated hair growth. Conclusion These results suggest that PBM therapy regulates hair growth by activating the ERK/AKT/GSK3βsignaling pathway. Thus, multiple-wavelength radiation from devices combining radiation emitted by lowpower lasers and LEDs could be a new approach for promoting PBM-induced beneficial effects.

Purpose: There are few reports on outcomes following surgical repair of recurrent rectal prolapse. The purpose of this study was to examine surgical outcomes for recurrent rectal prolapse. Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study of patients who underwent surgery for recurrent rectal prolapse. This study used data collected by the Korean Anorectal Physiology and Pelvic Floor Disorder Study Group. Results: A total of 166 patients who underwent surgery for recurrent rectal prolapse were registered retrospectively between 2011 and 2016 in 8 referral hospitals. Among them, 153 patients were finally enrolled, excluding 13 patients who were not followed up postoperatively. Median follow-up duration was 40 months (range, 0.2–129.3 months). Methods of surgical repair for recurrent rectal prolapse included perineal approach (n = 96) and abdominal approach (n = 57). Postoperative complications occurred in 16 patients (10.5%). There was no significant difference in complication rate between perineal and abdominal approach groups. While patients who underwent the perineal approach were older and more fragile, patients who underwent the abdominal approach had longer operation time and admission days (P < 0.05). Overall, 29 patients (19.0%) showed re-recurrence after surgery. Among variables, none affected the re-recurrence. Conclusion For the recurrent rectal prolapse, the perineal approach is used for the old and fragile patients. The postoperative complications and re-recurrence rate between perineal and abdominal approach were not different significantly. No factor including surgical method affected re-recurrence for recurrent rectal prolapse.

Background: In August 2019, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons confirmed the first case report of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) in Korea and provided recommendations. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the first case report of BIA-ALCL on patients and whether the impact could be mitigated through expert recommendations. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients who underwent implant-based breast reconstruction using Biocell textured breast implants at Soonchunhyang University Hospital. After the first case report of BIA-ALCL and informing the patients via text messages, the pattern of outpatient visits and the proportion and indications of outpatient office visitors who received reoperations were analyzed. Results: After the first BIA-ALCL case report in Korea, 12 patients underwent reoperations due to other complications identified incidentally, while only three patients underwent prophylactic surgery. Among the patients who underwent reoperation after the Allergan issues, 76.7% received implant exchange. There was no significant difference in the proportion of reoperation types before and after the Allergan issues and the transmission of text messages (P=0.700). Conclusions Despite the major issues, outpatients were managed successfully according to our recommendations. The study found a low rate of regular outpatient visits; however, our efforts increased this rate. Therefore, methods for appropriate information delivery are needed for outpatient visits, as well as a system for regular monitoring. As experts, plastic surgeons should provide responsible leadership in this situation to relieve patients’ concerns.

A-50-year-old male patient presented with complaint of tenderness on the left malar area after traffic accident. Our first impression on him was zygomatic fracture, we did radiologic work-up and physical examination on him. But, on the computed tomography scan, there was no fracture or discontinuity on his facial bone. The computed tomography scan was revealed a 4-cm long foreign body in left maxillary sinus with a large amount of fluid collection. After thorough history taking from him, we reveal the patient had a history of trauma 30 years back on the left zygomatic area with a chopstick. The foreign body was removed via transoral approach with the endoscopic assist. There was no complication after operation.
Accidents, Traffic ; Facial Bones ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Male ; Maxilla ; Maxillary Fractures ; Maxillary Sinus ; Physical Examination ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Zygomatic Fractures

BACKGROUND: Because many cosmetic surgery clinics are not adequately equipped to handle emergent conditions, patients often come to a university hospital when problems occur during or after cosmetic surgery. However, few in-depth studies have been conducted of this issue. Therefore, we investigated emergency department visits due to complications associated with cosmetic surgery. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 38 patients who visited the emergency department of the authors' institution due to complications associated with cosmetic surgery from July 2014 to June 2017. RESULTS: There were more women than men (30 women vs. 8 men). Their mean age was 32.4 years (range, 19–57 years). Upon presentation to the emergency department, patients' vital signs and mental status were usually normal (27 normal vs. 11 abnormal). The types of surgery included blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, malar/orthognathic surgery, mammaplasty, liposuction, fat grafting, and filler and botulinum toxin injections. Most patients required hospitalization (26 admitted vs. 12 discharged). Eight of the hospitalized patients required intensive care unit care, of whom two died and three experienced brain death or had permanent neurologic sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: The complications were usually minor problems, despite the need for hospitalization, but some complications were life-threatening. We recommend close monitoring and maintaining an adequate injection capacity for intravenous sedative anesthesia. When any symptom or sign of a complication occurs, it is best to transfer the patient to a university hospital as soon as possible. Taking a careful medical history is always needed, even for minor procedures.
Anesthesia ; Blepharoplasty ; Botulinum Toxins ; Brain Death ; Cardiomyopathies ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lipectomy ; Male ; Mammaplasty ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinoplasty ; Surgery, Plastic ; Transplants ; Vital Signs

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is present in a high proportion of patients with kidney transplantation. Compared with uninfected kidney transplant recipients, HCV infected kidney recipient have higher prevalence of liver disease and worse allograft survival after transplantation. Interferon monotherapy before transplantation is standard therapy for HCV-infected kidney transplant candidates. If HCV infection is discovered after transplantation, interferon monotherapy is considered due to the limited critical situation. However, in this patient, who was a kidney recipient, HCV infection was treated after kidney transplantation with peginterferon-α and rivabirin. As a result, the patient achieved sustained virologic response.
Allografts ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Interferons ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Kidney* ; Liver Diseases ; Prevalence ; Ribavirin ; Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND: Fascial free flaps have been widely used for reconstruction of the hand because they are thin. However, studies reporting objective data regarding the advantages of this approach are lacking. Thus, we report our experience with such flaps. METHODS: Forty-five cases of fascial free flaps between November 2006 and March 2014 were reviewed. Nine cases involving reconstructed dorsal or lateral defects were included. Four anterolateral thigh fascial free flaps and 5 lateral arm fascial free flaps were examined. Maximal flap contour was assessed by measuring reconstructed tissue thickness at the central area from the surface of the skin to below the bone in a vertical manner using ultrasonography and X-ray data. Contralateral regions were examined in the same manner and a comparative analysis was performed. A questionnaire survey regarding aesthetic satisfaction was also administered. RESULTS: All reconstructed parts had a thicker contour than the contralateral side. The average relative percentage of reconstructed tissue thickness was found to be 152% using ultrasonography and 143% using X-ray imaging. According to the aesthetic satisfaction survey, the average rate of satisfaction for patients was 62%, and satisfaction with the flap contour was 72%. CONCLUSIONS: Using a fascial free flap, the reconstructed tissue was approximately 1.5× as thick as the contour of the normal side, which led to positive responses regarding aesthetic satisfaction.
Arm ; Fascia ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Hand* ; Humans ; Patient Satisfaction ; Skin ; Thigh ; Thinness ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: The goal of oncoplastic breast surgery is to restore the appearance of the breast and improve patient satisfaction. Thus, the assessment of cosmetic results and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) using appropriately constructed and validated instruments is essential. The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term objective cosmetic results and corresponding PROs after oncoplastic breast surgery. METHODS: Cosmetic results were assessed by the patients, a medical panel, and a computer program (BCCT.core). PROs were assessed using BREAST-Q, a questionnaire that measures the perception of patients having breast surgery. The cosmetic results and PROs were analyzed in patients who underwent quadrantectomy and partial breast reconstruction utilizing the latissimus dorsi flap. RESULTS: The mean duration of the follow-up period was 91.6 months (range, 33.3-171.0 months), and mean age of the patients was 51 years old (range, 33-72 years). The mean tumor size was 2.1 cm (range, 0.9-5.5 cm). There was fair agreement between the medical panel and BCCT.core score (K = 0.32, P < 0.001), and a statistically significant correlation between the BCCT.core score and medical panel cosmetic results was identified (r = 0.606, P < 0.001). A better BCCT.core result was related to a higher PRO of each BREAST-Q domain-satisfaction with breasts (R2 = 0.070, P = 0.039), satisfaction with outcome (R2 = 0.087, P = 0.021), psychosocial well-being (R2 = 0.085, P = 0.023), sexual well-being (R2 = 0.082, P = 0.029), and satisfaction with information (R2 = 0.064, P = 0.049). CONCLUSION: Our long-term results of oncoplastic surgery achieved a high level of patient satisfaction with good cosmetic results. The medical panel and BCCT.core results correlated well with the PROs of the patients using valid, reliable, and procedure-specific measures.
Breast* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; Patient Satisfaction ; Pilot Projects* ; Quality of Life ; Superficial Back Muscles* ; Surgical Flaps

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vocal polyps are caused by inflammation induced by stress or irritation. Many patients with vocal polyps complain voice discomfort. For vocal polyps, surgery such as laryngeal microsurgery has been the mainstay of management. We analyzed the clinical features of vocal polyps, and how the size and location of vocal polyps affect the outcomes of surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 42 patients from March 2014 to December 2015, who were diagnosed as unilateral single vocal polyp. When we operated on a vocal polyp with laryngeal microscopy, we measured their size and location. The quality of voice was evaluated by GRABS scale, jitter, shimmer, NHR (noise to harmonic ratio), MPT (maximum phonation time), and VHI (voice handicap index) before operation and 4 weeks after operation. RESULTS: When we divided the patients into large-sized vocal polyp group (the longest length >3 mm) and small-sized vocal polyp group (the longest length ≤3 mm), all parameter differences tend to be greater at large sized vocal polyp. However, these differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). When we divided into two groups depending on the volume of vocal polyp, no distinct tendency was found. When we compared the location (anterior, mid and posterior) of vocal polyp with the improvement of voice quality, more change was found at mid portion vocal polyp, except the difference of VHI. However, these differences were also not statistically significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: All parameter differences tend to be greater at large vocal polyp and polyp of the mid location.
Humans ; Inflammation ; Microscopy ; Microsurgery* ; Phonation ; Polyps* ; Retrospective Studies ; Voice Quality* ; Voice*

Primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma (PCMC) is a rare low-grade malignant neoplasm derived from the eccrine glands. PCMC most commonly arises in the head and neck, with the eyelid being the most common site of origin. This case report describes a 51-year-old male with a painless, pigmented superficial nodular lesion over his right lower eyelid. The lesion was considered to be benign, and the initial treatment was simple excision with a 3-mm margin. However, histologic examination revealed the diagnosis of PCMC, and the patient underwent re-excision of the tumor site with an additional 3-mm margin from the initial scar. Histologic study of this second margin was free of any malignant cells. The patient experienced no postoperative complication or recurrence after 2 years. In our case, the skin lesion had benign morphologic findings and was strongly suspected to be a benign mass. Physicians should be aware of this tumor and be able to differentiate it from benign cystic or solid eyelid lesions.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous* ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Eccrine Glands ; Eyelids* ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucins* ; Neck ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Skin Neoplasms