Background: and Purpose The additive effects of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) before mechanical thrombectomy (MT) remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of IVT prior to MT depending on the location of M1 occlusion. Methods: We reviewed the cases of patients who underwent MT for emergent large-vessel occlusion of the M1 segment. Baseline characteristics as well as clinical and periprocedural variables were compared according to the location of M1 occlusion (i.e., proximal and distal M1 occlusion). The main outcome was the achievement of functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2) at 3 months after stroke. The main outcomes were compared between the proximal and distal groups based on the use of IVT before MT. Results: Among 271 patients (proximal occlusion, 44.6%; distal occlusion, 55.4%), 33.9% (41/121) with proximal occlusion and 24.7% (37/150) with distal occlusion underwent IVT prior to MT. Largeartery atherosclerosis was more common in patients with proximal M1 occlusion; cardioembolism was more common in those with distal M1 occlusion. In patients with proximal M1 occlusion, there was no association between IVT before MT and functional independence. In contrast, there was a significant association between the use of IVT prior to MT (odds ratio=5.30, 95% confidence interval=1.56–18.05, P=0.007) and functional independence in patients with distal M1 occlusion. Conclusion IVT before MT was associated with improved functional outcomes in patients with M1 occlusion, especially in those with distal M1 occlusion but not in those with proximal M1 occlusion.

Background: Liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is increasingly used for immunosuppressive drug tests. However, most LC-MS/MS tests are laboratory-developed and their agreement is unknown in different Korean laboratories.This interlaboratory comparison study evaluated test reproducibility and identified potential error sources. Methods: Test samples containing three concentrations of tacrolimus, sirolimus, everolimus, cyclosporine, and mycophenolic acid were prepared by pooling surplus samples from patients undergoing routine therapeutic drug monitoring and tested in duplicate in the participating 10 clinical laboratories. Reconstitution and storage experiments were conducted for the commonly used commercial calibrator set. The robust estimators of reproducibility parameters were calculated. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rho, ρ) was used to evaluate the correlation between drugs. Multiple linear regression was used to determine whether the experimental conditions alter the calibration curves. Results: The reproducibility coefficient of variation exceeded 10% only for sirolimus concentrations 1 and 2 (10.8% and 12.5%, respectively) and everolimus concentrations 1 and 2 (12.3% and 11.4%, respectively). The percent difference values showed weak correlations between sirolimus and everolimus (ρ = 0.334, P = 0.175). The everolimus calibration curve slope was significantly altered after reconstitution following prolonged 5°C storage (P = 0.015 for 14 days; P = 0.025 for 28 days); the expected differences at 6 ng/mL were 0.598% for 14 days and 0.384% for 28 days. Conclusions LC-MS/MS test reproducibility for immunosuppressive drugs seems to be good in the Korean clinical laboratories. Continuous efforts are required to achieve test standardization and harmonization, especially for sirolimus and everolimus.

The newly revised 2018 Organ Injury Scale (OIS) has a similar format to the previous American Association for Surgery and Trauma (AAST) Emergency General Surgery Grading System, dividing the criteria for grading solid organ damage into three groups; imaging, operation, and pathology. The most significant alteration in the OIS system 2018 revision is the incorporation of multidetector CT (MDCT) findings of vascular injury including pseudoaneurysm and arteriovenous fistula. Similar to the previous OIS, the highest of the three criteria is assigned the final grade. In addition, if multiple grade I or II injuries are present, one grade is advanced for multiple injuries up to grade III. This pictorial essay demonstrates the MDCT findings of solid organ injury grades based on the 2018 OIS system.

The newly revised 2018 Organ Injury Scale (OIS) has a similar format to the previous American Association for Surgery and Trauma (AAST) Emergency General Surgery Grading System, dividing the criteria for grading solid organ damage into three groups; imaging, operation, and pathology. The most significant alteration in the OIS system 2018 revision is the incorporation of multidetector CT (MDCT) findings of vascular injury including pseudoaneurysm and arteriovenous fistula. Similar to the previous OIS, the highest of the three criteria is assigned the final grade. In addition, if multiple grade I or II injuries are present, one grade is advanced for multiple injuries up to grade III. This pictorial essay demonstrates the MDCT findings of solid organ injury grades based on the 2018 OIS system.

In 2016, the clinical chemistry proficiency-testing program consisted of 21 programs, including the general chemistry program of the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service. The general chemistry program consisted of 28 test items and was conducted using two level control materials four times per year. Based on the information and results for each test item entered by each institution, statistical analysis data according to test method, instrument, and reagent were reported. The report comprised a general statistics report showing the characteristics of all participating institutions and a separate institutional report showing the evaluation data of individual institutions. The statistics included the number of participating institutions and the mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, median, minimum, and maximum values for each group. Each report was composed of a table, histogram, and Levey-Jennings chart showing the statistics for each test item. The results of each institution and the statistics for each classification are presented in the table showing the statistics, and a standard deviation index is presented together with a method classification and a classification by reagent companies. A total of 14 items, including albumin, were evaluated by more than 1,000 institutions. There was no significant difference in the distribution of the measurement methods compared with those used in the previous year. The coefficient of variation showed a tendency to increase as the concentration of the level control material decreased and as the number of participating institutions decreased for each test item. Most of them showed a coefficient of variation within 10%. These statistical data will be useful when interpreting the survey results from the institutions and selecting a test method.
Chemistry ; Chemistry, Clinical* ; Classification ; Korea* ; Methods

BACKGROUND: In Korea, the prevalence, complications, and mortality rate of diabetes are rapidly increasing. However, investigations on the actual condition of diabetes management are very limited due to lack of nation-wide research or multicenter study. Hence, we have minutely inquired the current status of diabetes management and achievement of glucose target goal in general hospital offering education program. That way, we are able to furnish data for policy making of diabetes education and draw up guideline which may allow us to reduce the morbidity and mortality of diabetes. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 2,610 patients with type 2 diabetes who visited the 13 general hospital in Seoul or Gyeonggi region from March 19 to May 29, 2013. General characteristics, associated diseases, complications, and management status were investigated. RESULTS: The mean age was 61.0+/-11.6 years, body mass index was 25.0+/-3.3 kg/m2, and family history of diabetes was 50.5%. The mean duration of diabetes was 10.7+/-7.9 years and 53% received education about diabetes. The prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidemia were 59.2% and 65.5%, respectively, and 18.3% of the subjects were accompanied by liver disease. Diabetic retinopathy appeared in 31.6%, nephropathy in 28.1%, and neuropathy in 19.9% of the subjects. The mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level was 7.3%+/-1.3% and the achieving rate based on Korean Diabetes Association guideline (HbA1c <6.5%) was 24.8%, blood pressure (130/80 mm Hg or less) was 49.4%, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (<100 mg/dL) was 63.6%. The reaching rate to the target level in four parameters (blood glucose, blood pressure, lipids, and body weight) was 7.8%. CONCLUSION: The blood glucose control rate was lower than other parameters, and the implementation rate of diabetes education was only 53%. Thus more appropriate glucose control and systematic diabetes education are imperative.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Dyslipidemias ; Education ; Glucose ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Hospitals, General* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea* ; Liver Diseases ; Mortality ; Policy Making ; Prevalence ; Seoul

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) classically consists of necrotizing granulomatous inflammation of the upper and/or lower respiratory tract, necrotizing glomerulonephritis, and an autoimmune necrotizing systemic vasculitis affecting predominantly small vessels. We report a case of WG with central nervous system (CNS) involvement. WG is being diagnosed through pulmonary nodule biopsy. A small nodular lesion in the left posterior basal ganglia of brain being highly suspicious for granulomatosis was detected by MRI. After IV pulse cyclophosphamide and oral corticosteroid treatment for over 4 months, clinical manifestations and CNS lesions in brain MRI is improved. WG might have multiple granulomatous lesions which could be misdiagnosed due to malignancy. CNS involvement in WG is rare but careful evaluation is necessary when there are suspicious symptoms or lesions in CNS.
Basal Ganglia ; Biopsy ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Cyclophosphamide ; Glomerulonephritis ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Respiratory System ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Wegener Granulomatosis

Double pylorus is one of the rare anomalies of gastrointestinal tract, which have an accessory canal connecting the distal stomach to the duodenal bulb. The majority of the cases is thought to be acquired lesions from ulcer disease except some congenital cases. We report a case of a 77 year-old male who was visited the hospital because of the melena and diagnosed double pylorus. The relevant literatures on subject were reviewed.
Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Melena ; Pylorus ; Stomach ; Stomach Ulcer ; Ulcer