Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and ethanol ablation (EA) followed by RFA in treating mixed cystic and solid thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods: We included 243 nodules from 243 patients who underwent RFA for mixed cystic and solid benign nodules. The nodules were divided into two groups (RFA alone and EA + RFA). We evaluated volume reduction rate (VRR), therapeutic success rate, improvement in symptomatic and cosmetic issues, complications, and adverse effects. Results: The RFA group included 204 patients, and the EA + RFA group included 39 patients.The long-term success rates in the RFA only and EA + RFA groups were 90.2% and 97.4%, respectively. The mean VRR at the last follow-up in the RFA and EA + RFA groups were 81.6% and 87.2%, respectively. Therapeutic results were similar in both groups at the last followup. Cosmetic and symptomatic problems markedly improved in both groups. No major complications were observed. Conclusion Both RFA alone and EA + RA are safe and effective methods for treating mixed cystic and solid thyroid nodules, although EA + RFA is slightly more effective.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and ethanol ablation (EA) followed by RFA in treating mixed cystic and solid thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods: We included 243 nodules from 243 patients who underwent RFA for mixed cystic and solid benign nodules. The nodules were divided into two groups (RFA alone and EA + RFA). We evaluated volume reduction rate (VRR), therapeutic success rate, improvement in symptomatic and cosmetic issues, complications, and adverse effects. Results: The RFA group included 204 patients, and the EA + RFA group included 39 patients.The long-term success rates in the RFA only and EA + RFA groups were 90.2% and 97.4%, respectively. The mean VRR at the last follow-up in the RFA and EA + RFA groups were 81.6% and 87.2%, respectively. Therapeutic results were similar in both groups at the last followup. Cosmetic and symptomatic problems markedly improved in both groups. No major complications were observed. Conclusion Both RFA alone and EA + RA are safe and effective methods for treating mixed cystic and solid thyroid nodules, although EA + RFA is slightly more effective.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and ethanol ablation (EA) followed by RFA in treating mixed cystic and solid thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods: We included 243 nodules from 243 patients who underwent RFA for mixed cystic and solid benign nodules. The nodules were divided into two groups (RFA alone and EA + RFA). We evaluated volume reduction rate (VRR), therapeutic success rate, improvement in symptomatic and cosmetic issues, complications, and adverse effects. Results: The RFA group included 204 patients, and the EA + RFA group included 39 patients.The long-term success rates in the RFA only and EA + RFA groups were 90.2% and 97.4%, respectively. The mean VRR at the last follow-up in the RFA and EA + RFA groups were 81.6% and 87.2%, respectively. Therapeutic results were similar in both groups at the last followup. Cosmetic and symptomatic problems markedly improved in both groups. No major complications were observed. Conclusion Both RFA alone and EA + RA are safe and effective methods for treating mixed cystic and solid thyroid nodules, although EA + RFA is slightly more effective.

Background: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is used to relieve menopause symptoms, but has been reported to be associated with coronary heart disease and cancers in women.However, a link between HRT and psoriasis has yet to be established. The aim of this study was to determine the association between HRT and the risk of psoriasis. Methods: We executed a nationwide population-based study. A total of 1,130,741 postmenopause women were enrolled in the national health care insurance database based on the enrollment criteria. The study population was classified into four groups based on the duration of the HRT, and the risk of psoriasis was analyzed. Results: The incidence rates of psoriasis per 1,000 person-years were 3.36 and 4.09 in the no history of HRT and ≥ 5 years of HRT, respectively. After adjustment for age, smoking, alcohol intake, regular exercise, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, the most prolonged duration of the HRT group (≥ 5 years) exhibited significantly increased risk of developing psoriasis (hazard ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.16–1.29). Conclusion We propose that HRT in post-menopausal women is associated with an increased likelihood of psoriasis development.

OBJECTIVE: Assessing the severity of injury and predicting outcomes are essential in traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the respiratory rate and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of the Revised Trauma Score (RTS) are difficult to use in the prehospital setting. This investigation aimed to develop a new prehospital trauma score for TBI (NTS-TBI) to predict mortality and disability.METHODS: We used a nationwide trauma database on severe trauma cases transported by fire departments across Korea in 2013 and 2015. NTS-TBI model 1 used systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation < 90% measured via pulse oximeter, and motor component of GCS. Model 2 comprised variables of model 1 and age >65 years. We assessed discriminative power via area under the curve (AUC) value for in-hospital mortality and disability defined according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale with scores of 2 or 3. We then compared AUC values of NTS-TBI with those of RTS.RESULTS: In total, 3,642 patients were enrolled. AUC values of NTS-TBI models 1 and 2 for mortality were 0.833 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.815 to 0.852) and 0.852 (95% CI, 0.835 to 0.869), respectively, while AUC values for disability were 0.772 (95% CI, 0.749 to 0.796) and 0.784 (95% CI, 0.761 to 0.807), respectively. AUC values of NTS-TBI model 2 for mortality and disability were higher than those of RTS (0.819 and 0.761, respectively) (P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: Our NTS-TBI model using systolic blood pressure, motor component of GCS, oxygen saturation, and age was feasible for prehospital care and showed outstanding discriminative power for mortality.
Anoxia ; Area Under Curve ; Blood Pressure ; Brain Injuries ; Capillaries ; Fires ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Korea ; Mortality ; Observational Study ; Oxygen ; Quality Improvement ; Respiratory Rate

OBJECTIVE: In a proof of concept study, we compared no-touch radiofrequency ablation (NtRFA) in bipolar mode with conventional direct tumor puncture (DTP) in terms of local tumor control (LTC), peritoneal seeding, and tumorigenic factors, in the rabbit VX2 subcapsular hepatic tumor model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two rabbits with VX2 subcapsular hepatic tumors were divided into three groups according to the procedure: DTP-RFA (n = 25); NtRFA (n = 25); and control (n = 12). Each of the three groups was subdivided into two sets for pathologic analysis (n = 24) or computed tomography (CT) follow-up for 6 weeks after RFA (n = 38). Ultrasonography-guided DTP-RFA and NtRFA were performed nine days after tumor implantation. LTC was defined by either achievement of complete tumor necrosis on histopathology or absence of local tumor progression on follow-up CT and autopsy. Development of peritoneal seeding was also compared among the groups. Serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured via ELISA (Elabscience Biotechnology Co.) after RFA for tumorigenic factor evaluation. RESULTS: Regarding LTC, there was a trend in NtRFA (80%, 20/25) toward better ablation than in DTP-RFA (56%, 14/25) (p = 0.069). Complete tumor necrosis was achieved in 54.5% of DTP-RFA (6/11) and 90.9% of NtRFA (10/11). Peritoneal seeding was significantly more common in DTP-RFA (71.4%, 10/14) than in NtRFA (21.4%, 3/14) (p = 0.021) or control (0%). Elevations of HGF, VEGF or IL-6 were not detected in any group. CONCLUSION: No-touch radiofrequency ablation led to lower rates of peritoneal seeding and showed a tendency toward better LTC than DTP-RFA.
Autopsy ; Biotechnology ; Catheter Ablation* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; Interleukin-6 ; Necrosis ; Punctures ; Rabbits* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

OBJECTIVE: Onion and garlic are a commonly consumed food in the Korean population. But these food materials have rarely been studied for their allergenic potentials. We analyzed the sensitization rate of garlic and onion using multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST)-immunoblot assay. METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2013, we analyzed the results of the MAST immunoblot assay performed in 2,691 allergy patients at Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, retrospectively. RESULTS: Among 2,691 patients, 1,063 were under 18 years old, and 1,628 were over 18 years old. In the all age groups, 29 patients (1.08%) were positive to garlic, 54 patients (2.01%) were positive to onion and one patient was positive to garlic and onion and others. A total of 84 patients (3.12%) were positive to garlic or onions. In infants under the age of 2 years, garlic was the seventh and onion was the nineteenth common food allergen, and onion was more common than rice. While getting older, the sensitization rate of garlic decreased (P<0.001), but onion increased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Using one of the semi-quantitative methods, MAST immunoblot assay, we realized that the sensitization rate of garlic was higher than rice or wheat in infants. We presume further studies on the role of garlic and onion in food allergy are needed.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Garlic* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoassay ; Infant ; Onions* ; Retrospective Studies ; Triticum

Subependymomas are rare benign tumors located in the ventricular system. Intraparenchymal subependymoma is extremely rare; only 6 cases have been reported, and all were located in the supratentorial region. We describe a case of infratentorial, intraparenchymal subependymoma in a 28-year-old man with intermittent headache. Imaging revealed a well-demarcated cystic and solid cerebellar mass near the fourth ventricle. The mass had a microcystic component and calcification without contrast enhancement. Complete surgical excision was performed, and histopathology confirmed a subependymoma.
Adult ; Calcinosis/diagnosis ; Cerebellar Neoplasms/*diagnosis/surgery ; Fourth Ventricle ; Glioma, Subependymal/*diagnosis/surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Rare Diseases/*diagnosis/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Here, we report a case of newly diagnosed diabetes, with concurrent pancreatic cancer manifested as hyperglycemic crisis, and aggravated by urinary tract infection. We summarize the initial clinical manifestations and pertinent laboratory, radiologic, and clinical findings in an elderly patient with hyperglycemic emergency. A review of the documents involving pancreatic tumors and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state, which is an acute complication of diabetes mellitus, is presented. In the absence of other identifiable conditions, it is reasonable to speculate that some factor (or factors) produced by the tumor had a role in the metabolic decompensation. In addition, this discussion should be more carefully considered in the aged people group.
Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Urinary Tract Infections

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are several evidences of reduced cochlea blood flow after noise exposure in the cochlea. However, the pathophysiology of blood flow change is still obscure, and endothelins, proteins that constrict blood vessels and play a key role in vascular homeostasis using its receptors may have importance in this respect. In this study, we investigated the expression changes of endothelin-1 (ET-1), endothelin receptor A (ETAR) and B (ETBR) according to auditory threshold change after noise exposure. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Mice were exposed to different noise to generate transient (group 2) and permanent threshold shift (group 3), respectively. Auditory threshold shifts were evaluated with auditory brainstem response and expression changes of ET-1, ETAR and ETBR after noise exposure were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and real time RT-PCR. RESULTS: After noise exposure, the increased ET-1, ETAR and ETBR immunoreactivities were observe in stria vascularis, spiral ligament and spiral ganglion neuron. ET-1 mRNA expressions increased after noise exposure in both group 2 and group 3 compared to those of the control group. At 2 weeks after noise exposure, however, the ET-1 mRNA expressions in group 3 increased compared to that of the control but decreased compared to that of group 2. On the other hand, ETAR mRNA expression increased at 2 weeks after noise exposure in both groups, just after noise exposure in group 2 and at 2 weeks after noise exposure in group 3. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that expression changes of ET-1, ETAR and ETBR might be associated with hearing threshold shift and recovery after noise exposure in the cochlea.
Animals ; Auditory Threshold ; Blood Vessels ; Cochlea ; Endothelin-1 ; Endothelins ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Hand ; Hearing ; Homeostasis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Neurons ; Noise ; Proteins ; Receptors, Endothelin ; RNA, Messenger ; Spiral Ganglion ; Spiral Ligament of Cochlea ; Stria Vascularis