Purpose: Achilles tendon rupture is a frequently encountered ankle pathology associated with a substantial burden of intense pain and functional deficits. Chronic Achilles tendon ruptures with considerable defects pose intricate repair challenges that are often marred by complications such as re-rupture and persistent pain. Various treatment methods, including allograft transplantation, have been proposed, but the literature on this technique is limited. In this study, we propose a surgical approach utilizing allotendon transplantation and a calcaneal tunneling technique and provide clinical evaluation details. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with chronic Achilles tendon ruptures treated with allotendon between 2020 and 2022 were included in the study. Patients were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Scores (ATRSs). Complications were assessed postoperatively. Results: The average VAS score was 7 before surgery, 7.3 immediately after surgery, and 4.3 at 1 month, 2.5 at 3 months, and 1.3 at 6 months after surgery. Because the sample was limited to 15 individuals and distributions were non-normal, the analysis was conducted using the non-parametric Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test, and statistical significance was accepted for p-values<0.05. Results showed a significant improvement in ATRS and VAS scores versus preoperative and immediate postoperative values. VAS scores showed a decreasing trend after surgery, whereas average ATRS scores increased from 14 before surgery, 33.8 at 1 month, 82.7 at 3 months, and 93.9 at 6 months. Conclusion This study suggests that allograft transplantation using the described calcaneal tunnel technique provides an effective treatment for chronic Achilles tendon ruptures. However, extensive research and long-term clinical trials are required to validate and better understand the technique’s efficacy.

Trauma is frequently implicated in the development of sarcomas, including rhabdomyosarcoma. Rare soft tissue sarcomas have been reported to arise in scar tissue following surgical procedures or thermal or acid burns, at fracture sites, and in the vicinity of plastic or metal implants, usually after a latent period of several years. The authors encountered a case of a rhabdomyosarcoma arising from the forearm crushed by a conveyor belt 11 years ago. Several possible etiological factors for sarcoma development were identified in this patient, including tissue damage and inflammation, as well as the presence of metal implants and the limb’s exposure to radiation during multiple imaging tests. After severe soft tissue damage, the occurrence of a sarcoma should be considered and more attention should be paid to the causative factors for sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: The increasing use of electronic medical record (EMR) systems for documenting clinical medical data has led to EMR data being increasingly accessed for clinical trials. In this study, a database of patients who were prescribed statins for the first time was developed using EMR data. A clinical data mart (CDM) was developed for cohort study researchers. METHODS: Seoul St. Mary's Hospital implemented a clinical data warehouse (CDW) of data for ~2.8 million patients, 47 million prescription events, and laboratory results for 150 million cases. We developed a research database from a subset of the data on the basis of a study protocol. Data for patients who were prescribed a statin for the first time (between the period from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2015), including personal data, laboratory data, diagnoses, and medications, were extracted. RESULTS: We extracted initial clinical data of statin from a CDW that was established to support clinical studies; the data was refined through a data quality management process. Data for 21,368 patients who were prescribed statins for the first time were extracted. We extracted data every 3 months for a period of 1 year. A total of 17 different statins were extracted. It was found that statins were first prescribed by the endocrinology department in most cases (69%, 14,865/21,368). CONCLUSION: Study researchers can use our CDM for statins. Our EMR data for statins is useful for investigating the effectiveness of treatments and exploring new information on statins. Using EMR is advantageous for compiling an adequate study cohort in a short period.
Cohort Studies ; Data Accuracy ; Diagnosis ; Electronic Health Records ; Endocrinology ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Oxidoreductases* ; Prescriptions ; Seoul

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a rare condition defined as the dilatation of coronary artery to at least 1.5 times larger than the normal adjacent coronary artery. Clinical manifestations of CAE vary, ranging from asymptomatic to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Because of its rarity and clinical diversity, the best treatment strategy and prognosis for CAE remain unclear. We describe a case of STEMI caused by intracoronary thrombus formation within an ectatic area in a patient with liver cirrhosis (LC). The patient was successfully managed by thrombus aspiration only, without balloon angioplasty or stent implantation, and maintained by dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and ticagrelor, a potent new P2Y12 inhibitor.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Aspirin ; Coronary Vessels* ; Dilatation ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Prognosis ; Stents ; Thrombosis*

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a rare condition defined as the dilatation of coronary artery to at least 1.5 times larger than the normal adjacent coronary artery. Clinical manifestations of CAE vary, ranging from asymptomatic to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Because of its rarity and clinical diversity, the best treatment strategy and prognosis for CAE remain unclear. We describe a case of STEMI caused by intracoronary thrombus formation within an ectatic area in a patient with liver cirrhosis (LC). The patient was successfully managed by thrombus aspiration only, without balloon angioplasty or stent implantation, and maintained by dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and ticagrelor, a potent new P2Y12 inhibitor.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Aspirin ; Coronary Vessels ; Dilatation ; Dilatation, Pathologic ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver ; Myocardial Infarction ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Prognosis ; Stents ; Thrombosis

Our society is aging rapidly, and the number of elderly people who are in charge of purchasing and preparing foods at home is increasing. However, most the elderly have difficulty managing nutrition and food safety by themselves. The purpose of this study was to develop the necessary knowledge, through focus group interview and Delphi technique to establish a food safety and nutrition education program. The diet and educational needs of the elderly were surveyed through FGI. The education topics were decided by the Delphi technique. The education program consisted of a five week program, and the topics taught were 'Dietary Change for Healthy Life', 'Prevention of Food Poisoning in Everyday Life', 'Safe Food Handling for my Health', 'Healthy Dietary Life to Prevent Chronic Disease', and 'Safety! Nutrition! Healthy Dietary Life'. This education program was designed to decrease the perceived barriers, and to increase the perceived interests and the sense of self-efficacy. Education program materials, lesson plans, slides, handouts, videos, leaflets, and booklets were developed. Based on the results, the contents of the food safety guideline leaflets for the elderly were decided as the following: (1) wash your hands in the correct way; (2) select safe food; (3) cook foods safely; (4) keep foods safely; (5) keep kitchen utensils clean. In conclusion, if advanced education programs are implemented and delivered continuously in locations such as health centers and community welfare centers, those will contribute significantly to enhance the perception of food safety and to change the desirable dietary behavior of the elderly.
Aged ; Aging ; Delphi Technique ; Diet ; Fees and Charges ; Focus Groups ; Food Handling ; Food Safety ; Foodborne Diseases ; Hand ; Humans ; Pamphlets

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using a single cage and unilateral posterolateral fusion (PLF) with local bone, and to compare the clinical and radiological results with those of posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF) with autologous iliac bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with single segment degenerative lumbar disease were treated with spinal fusion. Twenty six patients, who underwent PLIF with single cage and local bone without autologous iliac bone, were classfied as the "cage group". The other 24 patients, who underwent PLF using autologous iliac bone, were classified as the "PLF group". The fusion rate, lumbar lordortic angle, segmental angle, and intervertebral disc height were compared in the radiograph between the two groups. The clinical outcomes were evaluated by the Oswestry Disability Index. Statistical analysis was performed using a T-test and Chi-Square test. RESULTS: The bony fusion rate was 80.8% in the cage group and 83.3% in the PLF group. The intervertebral disc height was restored better in the cage group, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups (p=0.10). Average intraoperative blood loss was similar in the two groups (565 ml in the cage group vs 567 ml in the PLF group). The average operation time was longer in the cage group but the difference was not significant (146.7 min vs 134 min). In the PLF group, 22 patients experienced pain at the iliac graft donor site in the early postoperative period that persisted for more than 6 months in 5 patients. CONCLUSION: PLIF using a single cage and local bone for single segment degenerative lumbar disease produced satisfactory bony fusion with none of the donor site morbidity at the iliac bone.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Postoperative Period ; Spinal Fusion ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

A 13-year-old boy, complained of an intermittent suddenly aggravated severe abdominal pain and diarrhea, was diagnosed as a small bowel volvulus without an intestinal malrotation, due to mesenteric lymphangioma. He took abdominal ultrasonography, abdominal CT scanning, upper gastrointestinal study and got an operation. The small bowel volvulus with cystic lymphangioma was confirmed by gross and pathologic findings.
Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Intestinal Volvulus ; Lymphangioma ; Lymphangioma, Cystic

The plasmepsins are the aspartic proteases of malaria parasites. Treatment of aspartic protease inhibitor inhibits hemoglobin hydrolysis and blocks the parasite development in vitro suggesting that these proteases might be exploited their potentials as antimalarial drug targets. In this study, we determined the genetic variations of the aspartic proteases of Plasmodium vivax (PvPMs) of wild isolates. Two plasmepsins (PvPM4 and PvPM5) were cloned and sequenced from 20 P. vivax Korean isolates and two imported isolates. The sequences of the enzymes were highly conserved except a small number of amino acid substitutions did not modify key residues for the function or the structure of the enzymes. The high sequence conservations between the plasmepsins from the isolates support the notion that the enzymes could be reliable targets for new antimalarial chemotherapeutics.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Aspartic Endopeptidases/*genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Conserved Sequence ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics ; Human ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmodium vivax/*enzymology/genetics/isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

We report a 25-year-old Korean woman with Adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) presented with renal amyloidosis, which had developed four years after disease onset. We successfully treated her with prednisolone, colchicine and cyclophosphamide. A review of the literature uncovered about 10 cases, most of which were treated by various regimens that resulted in poor outcomes. Renal amyloidosis should be suspected in patients with AOSD who have unexplained proteinuria. Although the mechanism of renal amyloid deposition is not well known, earlier histopathologic diagnosis and choice of regimen may affect prognosis.
Adult ; Amyloidosis/etiology+ACo- ; Case Report ; Female ; Human ; Kidney Diseases/etiology+ACo- ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset/complications+ACo-