Purpose: Diabetic foot ulcers and gangrene are major complications of diabetes, often accompanied by peripheral vascular occlusion.Revascularization is performed to restore blood flow and reduce complications such as amputation surgery. Nevertheless, reocclusion, a frequently reported complication after revascularization, often necessitates further lower limb amputations to facilitate rehabilitation and ambulation. This study examined the factors influencing the performance of secondary revascularization procedures in patients with diabetic foot gangrene who even underwent transtibial amputation (TTA) following revascularization. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 36 patients with diabetic foot gangrene who underwent TTA after revascularization from March 2005 to March 2022. The factors influencing restenosis were classified into three categories: revascularization factors, preoperative factors, and intraoperative factors. The revascularization factors were categorized based on whether percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) or bypass surgery had been performed. Preoperative factors included the patient’s age, gender, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, and other relevant factors. Intraoperative factors included surgery duration, blood loss, and transfusion. The study examined the factors influencing secondary revascularization in these three categories. Results: Among the 36 patients in the study, 27.8% (11 patients) underwent secondary revascularization procedures. There was no significant correlation between the performance of secondary revascularization and the type of revascularization procedure, whether PTA or bypass surgery (p>0.05). Similarly, no significant differences were observed in preoperative factors (including age, BMI, smoking status, HbA1c, and underlying diseases) and intraoperative factors (surgery duration, blood loss, and transfusion). On the other hand, regarding gender, all patients who underwent revascularization procedures were male, indicating a statistically significant result (p=0.039). Conclusion This study suggests that while most clinical variables showed no association with reocclusion, the fact that all patients who underwent secondary revascularization procedures were male indicates that gender may be a significant predictive factor of revascularization.

Background: In a previous study, rhinoplasty rasp was shown an effective method for removal of button osteoma (BO) of the skull. Objective: In the present study, our experience was presented and surgical outcome using high-speed burr in surgery for BO evaluated. Methods: The register-based surgery reports of patients who underwent local excision of BO (2010∼2023) at a single institution were reviewed. Demographics, photodocumentation, radiologic examinations, pathology reports, data of scar prevention, and surgical outcome in the BO study cohort were analyzed. Results: A total of 20 BO lesions in 18 patients (14 females and four males; mean age of 52.4±14.3 years) who underwent surgery using high-speed burr were assessed. The mean size of BO was 9.3 mm (range, 5∼17 mm).Most of the BOs were located on the forehead (19/20, 95.0%), which was associated with the course of the supratrochlear (n=13) or supraorbital nerve (n=6). Minimal hematoma was complicated in three patients (16.7%).Delayed complications, recurrence, and severe scarring during the mean follow-up of 3.1±3.5 months were not reported. Conclusion The use of high-speed burr for surface smoothening may provide good surgical results in minimally invasive BO surgery.

Purpose: The present study examined the effectiveness of the preoperative ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels in predicting the healing period of amputation wounds in patients with diabetes mellitus following a non-traumatic below-knee amputation (BKA). Materials and Methods: This study enrolled 41 diabetic foot ulcer patients who underwent BKA at the authors’ hospital diabetic foot center from April 2016 to April 2022. Among the 41 patients, 29 (70.7%) were male and 12 (29.3%) were female. Their mean age was 64.54±11.38 years (41~81 years). The mean follow-up period was 19.48±5.56 weeks (14~48 weeks) after BKA. The patients were divided into two groups (high IMA group and normal IMA group), which evaluated the healing period, wound dehiscence, and revision operation rate using a Fisher's exact test and Mann–Whitney U test. Three orthopedic surgeons performed stump wound evaluation, and they were evaluated as healing when all sutures were fused without oozing. Results: Thirty patients (73.2%) (group A) showed a high level of IMA (median: 91.2 U/mL), and 11 (26.8%) patients (group B) showed a normal range of IMA (median: 82.7 U/mL). In group A, the median period for wound healing took 1.4 weeks longer, which was significant (p=0.001). No statistical relationship was observed between wound dehiscence, revision operation rate, and IMA value. There was no correlation between the other risk factors (estimated glomerular filtration rate, HbA1c) and the wound healing period. Conclusion Although there was a limitation in using IMA as the sole factor to predict the healing period of amputation wounds in patients after BKA, this study revealed a significant positive correlation between IMA and the period of stump healing after BKA. Therefore, the preoperative IMA levels may help predict the period of stump healing after BKA.

Objective: This study estimated the incidence of driving-related adverse events and examined the association of cognitive function with the risk of future driving-related adverse events in the elderly Korean male population. Methods: We analyzed 1,172 male drivers aged 60 years or older in the Korean Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Aging and Dementia (KLOSCAD). Using the data from Korean National Police Agency, we classified the participants into three groups: safe driving (drove for 2 years after baseline without a traffic accident or repeated violations), driving cessation (stopped driving), and risky driving (one or more traffic accidents or repeated violations). We estimated the incidences of driving cessation and risky driving, and examined the effect of cognitive function on their risks. Results: The incidence of driving cessation and risky driving in the Korean male drivers aged 60 years or older was 19.3 and 69.9 per 1,000 person-years respectively and increased in the late 80s. Drivers with better baseline Word List Memory Test scores showed less risky driving (OR=0.94, p=0.039). Conclusion Driving-related adverse events increased in late 80s, and better memory function was protective against these events.

Background: and Purpose Both hypertension and hypotension increase cerebral white matter hyperintensities. However, the effects of hypotension in individuals with treated hypertension are unknown. We analyzed the association of low blood pressure with the location and amount of white matter hyperintensities between elderly individuals with controlled hypertension and those without hypertension. Methods: We enrolled 505 community-dwelling, cognitively normal elderly individuals from the participants of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Aging and Dementia. We measured blood pressure three times in a sitting position using a mercury sphygmomanometer and defined low systolic and diastolic blood pressure as ≤110 and ≤60 mm Hg, respectively. We segmented and quantified the periventricular and deep white matter hyperintensities from 3.0 Tesla fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance images. Results: Low systolic blood pressure was independently associated with larger volume of periventricular white matter hyperintensity (P=0.049). The interaction between low systolic blood pressure and hypertension was observed on the volume of periventricular white matter hyperintensity (P=0.005). Low systolic blood pressure was associated with the volume of periventricular white matter hyperintensity in individuals with controlled hypertension (F1,248=6.750, P=0.010), but not in those without hypertension (P=0.380). Low diastolic blood pressure was not associated with the volumes of white matter hyperintensities regardless of presence of controlled hypertension. Conclusions Low systolic blood pressure seems to be associated with larger volume of periventricular white matter hyperintensity in the individuals with a historyof hypertension but not in those without hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Next-generation sequencing is increasingly used for taxonomic identification of pathogenic bacterial isolates. We evaluated the performance of a newly introduced whole genome-based bacterial identification system, TrueBac ID (ChunLab Inc., Seoul, Korea), using clinical isolates that were not identified by three matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) systems and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. METHODS: Thirty-six bacterial isolates were selected from a university-affiliated hospital and a commercial clinical laboratory. Species was identified by three MALDI-TOF MS systems: Bruker Biotyper MS (Bruker Daltonics, Billerica, MA, USA), VITEK MS (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Étoile, France), and ASTA MicroIDSys (ASTA Inc., Suwon, Korea). Whole genome sequencing was conducted using the Illumina MiSeq system (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA), and genome-based identification was performed using the TrueBac ID cloud system (www.truebacid.com). RESULTS: TrueBac ID assigned 94% (34/36) of the isolates to known (N=25) or novel (N=4) species, genomospecies (N=3), or species group (N=2). The remaining two were identified at the genus level. CONCLUSIONS: TrueBac ID successfully identified the majority of isolates that MALDI-TOF MS failed to identify. Genome-based identification can be a useful tool in clinical laboratories, with its superior accuracy and database-driven operations.
Genes, rRNA ; Genome ; Gyeonggi-do ; Mass Spectrometry ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: This randomized, controlled study was designed to compare the effects of recruitment maneuvers (RMs) with a 15 cmH₂O positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on the systemic oxygenation and lung compliance of patients with healthy lungs following robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing a RALP with an intraoperative 15 cmH₂O PEEP were randomly allocated to an RM or a Control group. The patients in the RM group received a single RM through the application of a continuous positive airway pressure of 40 cmH₂O for 40 s 15 min after being placed in the Trendelenburg position. The arterial oxygen tension (PaO₂, primary endpoint) and the pulmonary dynamic and static compliances (secondary endpoints) were measured 10 min after the anesthetic induction (T1), 10 min after establishment of the pneumoperitoneum (T2), 10 min after establishment of the Trendelenburg position (T3), 10 min after the RM (T4), 60 min after the RM (T5), and 10 min after deflation of the pneumoperitoneum in the supine position (T6). RESULTS: The intergroup comparisons of the PaO₂ showed significantly higher values in the RM group than in the Control group at T4 and T5 (193 ± 35 mmHg vs. 219 ± 33 mmHg, P = 0.015, 188 ± 41 mmHg vs. 214 ± 42 mmHg, P = 0.005, respectively). However, the PaO₂ at T6 was similar in the two groups (211 ± 39 mmHg vs. 224 ± 41 mmHg, P = 0.442). Moreover, there were no statistical differences between the groups in the dynamic and static compliances of the lungs at any time point. CONCLUSIONS: The arterial oxygenation of the patients with a healthy lung function who had undergone a RALP with intraoperative 15 cmH₂O PEEP was improved by a single RM. However, this benefit did not last long, and it did not lead to an amelioration of the lung mechanics.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Head-Down Tilt ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Compliance ; Mechanics ; Oxygen* ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Positive-Pressure Respiration* ; Prostatectomy* ; Supine Position

The term electrosurgery refers to the passage of high-frequency alternating electrical current through the tissue, to achieve a specific surgical effect. It is used in everyday dermatologic practice for various purposes, including tissue dissection, bleeding control, and the removal of common skin lesions such as viral warts, melanocytic nevi, and cherry angiomas. Considering the nature of the device, adverse effects including skin burn and scarring can occur at any stage of the procedure. Therefore, it is essential that electrosurgery be performed by skilled and well-trained physicians. In this paper, we introduce a brief history of electrosurgery and present its categories and their clinical uses. In addition, the possible adverse effects and safety measures of electrosurgery are addressed.
Burns ; Cicatrix ; Dermatology* ; Electrosurgery* ; Hemangioma ; Hemorrhage ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Skin ; Warts