PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of implant-assisted removable partial dentures (IARPD) with surveyed crowns, also known as implant-crown-retained removable partial dentures (ICRPDs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electronic searches of MEDLINE/PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Web of Science, and the Korea Citation Index were performed according to the established search terms for ICRPD. A literature search was conducted for studies published in English or Korean until September 2023, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 216 journals were searched, and 31 eligible studies were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. One systematic review included five case reports of ICRPD. Nine retrospective studies evaluated implant survival/success rate, implant failure cases, marginal bone loss, periodontal status, clinical complications, and patient satisfaction. Twenty-one case reports published in Korea showed good prognoses. CONCLUSION According to the findings of this systematic review, ICRPD has a reasonable survival/success rate, minimal bone loss, and high patient satisfaction.

The demineralized bone matrix (DBM) as the bone graft material to increase the fusion rate was widely used in spinal fusion. The current study aimed to compare the fusion rate of DBM to the fusion rate of autograft in lumbar spine fusion via meta-analysis of published literature. After systematic search, comparative studies were selected according to eligibility criteria. Checklist (risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized study) was used to evaluate the risk of bias of the included nonrandomized controlled studies. The corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated. We also used subgroup analysis to analyze the fusion rate of posterolateral lumbar fusion and lumbar interbody fusion. Eight studies were finally included in this meta-analysis. These eight studies included 581 patients. Among them, 337 patients underwent spinal fusion surgery using DBM (DBM group) and 204 patients underwent spinal fusion surgery with mainly autologous bone and without using DBM (control group). There was no significant differences of fusion rate between the two groups in posterolateral fusion analysis (risk ratio [RR], 1.03; 95% CI, 0.90–1.17; p=0.66) and interbody fusion analysis (RR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.91–1.39; p=0.27). Based on the available evidence, the use of DBM with autograft in posterolateral lumbar spine fusion and lumbar interbody fusion showed a slightly higher fusion rate than that of autograft alone; however, there was no statistically different between two groups.

BACKGROUND: Cancer risk and epidemiology in pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) warrant further investigation in a large-scale cohort. METHODS: We performed a nationwide population-based study using the national health insurance database of Korea. We screened records from 18,936,885 individuals who received a national health examination ≥ 2 times from 2009 to 2016. Pre-dialysis CKD was identified based on serum creatinine and dipstick albuminuria results. Individuals with preexisting cancer history, renal replacement therapy, or transient CKD were excluded. A control group without evidence of kidney function impairment and matched for age, sex, low-income status, and smoking history was included. Risk of cancers, as identified in the claims database, was investigated using a multivariable Cox regression model including matched variables and other unmatched clinical characteristics as covariates. RESULTS: A total of 471,758 people with pre-dialysis CKD and the same number of matched controls were included. Urinary (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.97; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.82–2.13) and hematopoietic (adjusted HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.38–1.68) malignancy risk was increased in pre-dialysis CKD and all CKD stages. However, the risk of digestive cancer was lower in the pre-dialysis CKD group (adjusted HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.87–0.92). The risk of digestive, respiratory, thyroid, and prostate malignancy demonstrated a non-linear association with CKD stage, with stage 1 or stage 4/5 CKD without dialysis demonstrating relatively lower risk. CONCLUSION: Cancer risk varied in pre-dialysis CKD compared to controls, and the association between cancer risk and CKD stage varied depending on the cancer type.
Albuminuria ; Cohort Studies ; Comorbidity ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Epidemiology ; Kidney ; Korea ; National Health Programs ; Prostate ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thyroid Gland

The purpose of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory activity of ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) extract (IPE) in vitro and in vivo. Raji (a human B cell line) and Jurkat (a human T cell line) cells were treated with various doses of IPE and cell proliferation was measured by WST assay. Results showed that IPE promoted the proliferation of both Raji and Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner. IPE also enhanced IL-6 and TNF-α production in macrophages in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), although IPE alone did not induce cytokine production. Moreover, IPE treatment upregulated iNOS gene expression in macrophages in a time- and dose-dependent manner and led to the production of nitric oxide in macrophages in the presence of IFNγ. In vivo studies revealed that oral administration of IPE for 2 weeks increased the differentiation of CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ cells in splenocytes. These findings suggested that IPE has immunomodulatory effects and could be developed as an immunomodulatory supplement.
Administration, Oral ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytokines ; Ethanol* ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Ice* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-6 ; Jurkat Cells ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages ; Mesembryanthemum* ; Nitric Oxide

BACKGROUND: Methyl alcohol poisoning has been mainly reported in community. Two cases of methyl alcohol poisoning occurred in a small-sized subcontracted factory which manufactured smartphone parts in Korea. CASE PRESENTATION: One young female patient presented with dyspnea and visual disturbance. Another young male patient presented with visual disturbance and myalgia. They treated with sodium bicarbonate infusion and hemodialysis for metabolic acidosis. In addition, he received ethyl alcohol per oral treatment. Her and his urinary methyl alcohol concentration was detected as 7.632 mg/L, 46.8 mg/L, respectively, although they were treated hemodialysis. Results of the working environment measurement showed that the concentration of methyl alcohol (1030.1–2220.5 ppm) in the air exceeded the time weighted average (200 ppm). They were diagnosed with optic neuropathy due to methyl alcohol poisoning and still have visual impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Workers who hired as dispatched employees in a small-sized subcontracted factory were exposed to high concentrations of methyl alcohol. The workplace had poor ventilation system. In addition, workers did not wear proper personal protect equipment. Working environment measurement and annual chekups for workers were not performed. They were in a blind spot to occupational safety and health. More attention is needed to protect vulnerable workers’ health.
Acidosis ; Aluminum* ; Dyspnea ; Ethanol ; Female ; Humans ; Inhalation* ; Korea ; Male ; Methanol* ; Myalgia ; Occupational Health ; Optic Disk ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Poisoning ; Renal Dialysis ; Smartphone ; Sodium Bicarbonate ; Ventilation ; Vision Disorders

PURPOSE: The impact of obesity on the surgical outcomes of Asian patients undergoing laparoscopic colon surgery is not clear. The purpose was to evaluate the outcome of laparoscopic surgery in obese Asian patients with colon cancer.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the prospectively collected data of 1,740 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer between January 2008 and December 2010. Patients were classified according to the categories proposed by the International Obesity Task Force, Non-obese (body mass index [BMI]<25.0 kg/m2), Obese-I (BMI, 25.0–29.9 kg/m2), and Obese-II (BMI≥30 kg/m2). Surgical outcomes, including open conversion, operative time, and postoperative hospital stay, were compared in the Non-obese, Obese-I, and Obese-II patients.RESULTS: Of the 1,192 patients in the study, 812 (68.1%), 360 (30.2%), and 20 (1.7%), were classified as Non-obese, Obese-I, and Obese-II, respectively. The Obese-II group had higher conversion rates (10.0% vs. 3.6% and 1.6%, P=0.008) and, longer operative times (180.35 vs. 162.54 and 147.84 minutes, P<0.001) than the Obese-I and Non-obese group. However, the other postoperative outcomes were not significantly different. The overall survival and disease-free survival were not significantly different between groups (P=0.952). Multivariate analysis showed that the independent risk factor for conversion were BMI, total operative time, previous operative history, and cancer perforation.CONCLUSION: The outcomes of laparoscopic colon surgery in obese patients are similar to those of non-obese patients, offering all the benefits of a minimally invasive approach. However, the conversion rate was higher in obese patients. It is therefore very important for surgeons to be aware of these risks during laparoscopic colon surgery in obese patients.
Advisory Committees ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Colectomy ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity ; Observational Study ; Operative Time ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Surgeons

PURPOSE: Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are progressive neurodegenerative disorders with diverse modes of inheritance. There are several subtypes of SCAs. SCA 8, SCA 12, and SCA 17 are the less common forms of SCAs with limited information available on their epidemiological profiles in Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of SCA8, SCA12, and SCA17 in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six unrelated Korean patients were enrolled and showed normal trinucleotide repeats through polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) for the genes ATXN1, ATXN2, ATXN3, CACNA1A , and ATXN7, which correspond to SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, and SCA7, respectively. PCR products from patients were further analyzed by capillary electrophoresis using fluorescence labeled primers for the genes ATXN8OS, PPP2R2B, and TBP, which correspond to SCA8, SCA12, and SCA17. RESULTS: Three patients had 104, 97, and 75 abnormal expanded repeats in the ATXN8OS gene, the causative gene for SCA8. None of the patients exhibited abnormal repeats in SCA12 and SCA17. Normal trinucleotide repeat ranges of the cohort in this study were estimated to be 17-34 copies (average, 24+/-4 copies) for SCA8, 7-18 copies (average, 13+/-3 copies) for SCA12, and 26-43 copies (average, 35+/-2 copies) for SCA17. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that SCA8, SCA12, and SCA17 are rare in Korean patients with SCA, and further genetic studies are warranted to enhance the mutation detection rate in the Korean SCA population.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cohort Studies ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Korea ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid* ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias* ; Trinucleotide Repeats ; Wills

Pseudomonas stutzeri is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile, single polar-flagellated, soil bacterium that was first isolated from human spinal fluid and is widely distributed in the environment. It was isolated as an uncommon opportunistic pathogen from humans, and a few cases of P. stutzeri-induced peritonitis have been reported in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Catheter removal with antibiotic treatment is generally recommended because peritonitis by Pseudomonas species is commonly associated with catheter-related infection. Here, we describe the first case of P. stutzeri-induced peritonitis in an 82-year-old woman in Korea. She had received two antipseudomonal antibiotics, an aminoglycoside (isepamicin, Yuhan corporation, Seoul, Korea) and a fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin), and was successfully treated without removal of the CAPD catheter.
Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheter-Related Infections ; Catheters ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Peritonitis ; Pseudomonas ; Pseudomonas stutzeri ; Soil

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ that secretes various metabolically important substances including adipokines, which represent a link between insulin resistance and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The factors responsible for the progression from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis remain elusive, but adipokine imbalance may play a pivotal role. We evaluated the expressions of adipokines such as visfatin, adipocyte-fatty-acid-binding protein (A-FABP), and retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4) in serum and tissue. The aim was to discover whether these adipokines are potential predictors of NASH. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction, quantification of mRNA, and Western blots encoding A-FABP, RBP-4, and visfatin were used to study tissue samples from the liver, and visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. The tissue samples were from biopsy specimens obtained from patients with proven NASH who were undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to gallbladder polyps. RESULTS: Patients were classified into two groups: NASH, n=10 and non-NASH, n=20 according to their nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Activity Score. Although serum A-FABP levels did not differ between the two groups, the expressions of A-FABP mRNA and protein in the visceral adipose tissue were significantly higher in NASH group than in non-NASH group (104.34 vs. 97.05, P<0.05, and 190.01 vs. 95.15, P<0.01, respectively). Furthermore, the A-FABP protein expression ratio between visceral adipose tissue and liver was higher in NASH group than in non-NASH group (4.38 vs. 1.64, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NASH patients had higher levels of A-FABP expression in their visceral fat compared to non-NASH patients. This differential A-FABP expression may predispose patients to the progressive form of NASH.
Adipose Tissue/metabolism/pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins/genetics/*metabolism ; Fatty Liver/metabolism/*pathology ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat/*metabolism ; Liver/metabolism/pathology ; Middle Aged ; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma/genetics/metabolism

Endovascular treatment of ethmoidal dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) has not been widely performed because of the technical difficulty of the procedure and the potential risk of central retinal artery occlusion. We report the case of a patient who underwent Onyx embolization through the ophthalmic artery in bilateral ethmoidal DAVF; to our best knowledge this is the first report.
Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Artery ; Retinal Artery Occlusion