BACKGROUND: Static parameters such as central venous pressure and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, have limitation in evaluation of patients' volume status. Dynamic parameters such as stroke volume variation (SVV), have been used to evaluate intraoperative hemodynamic volume status, in various operations. We examined if SVV is also effective for patients undergoing operation with prone position for fluid management. METHODS: Eighteen patients that received spinal surgery under prone position November 2015 to May 2016, were enrolled. Patients were kept at an SVV value less than 14% during surgery. Changes of pre-, post-operative volume status were evaluated, using transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS: Mean fluid administered was 1,731.97 ± 792.38 ml. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume was 72.85 ± 13.50 ml before surgery, and 70.84 ± 15.00 ml after surgery (P value = 0.594). Right ventricular end-diastolic area was 15.56 ± 1.71 cm² before surgery, and 13.52 ± 2.65 cm² after surgery (P value = 0.110). Inferior vena cava diameter was 14.99 ± 1.74 mm before surgery, and 13.57 ± 2.83 mm after surgery (P value = 0.080). CONCLUSIONS: We can confirm that fluid management based on SVV is effective, even in prone position surgery. So, SVV, that can be measured by continuous arterial pressure, can be considered a guideline for effective fluid management in spinal surgery.
Arterial Pressure ; Central Venous Pressure ; Echocardiography ; Fluid Therapy ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Prone Position ; Pulmonary Artery ; Stroke Volume ; Stroke ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Xanthogranulomatous cystitis is a rare, benign chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Herein we report a case of a 41-year-old man who presented with painless hematuria and a bladder mass on imaging studies.
Adult ; Cystitis ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Urinary Bladder ; Xanthomatosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In 2010, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) adopted glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as a new diagnostic criterion for diabetes mellitus. However, HbA1c values may differ among races. We determined whether this criterion could be applied to Korean diabetics. METHODS: Between January 2000 and January 2010, 1,862 patients among Konyang University Hospital visitors in which the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and HbA1c were checked at the same time were enrolled. We excluded patients with acute disease, an Hb < or = 10 g/dL, a Cr > or = 2 mg/dL, those prescribed oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin, and those who were pregnant. RESULTS: After applying the exclusion criteria, 1,474 Korean patients were enrolled. All had common features of Korean diabetics for body mass index and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance values. Using the 0 and 120 minute glucose levels of the OGTT from the receiver operating characteristic curve, the HbA1c cutoff value was 6.25%. The cutoff value to diagnose diabetes with the presence of diabetic retinopathy was 6.75%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a difference between the HbA1c values for diagnosing diabetes and the new diagnostic criterion from the ADA. Considering that the HbA1c characteristics may be influenced by race or culture, larger studies on diabetes complications are needed to identify the appropriate HbA1c value for Korean diabetics.
Acute Disease ; Body Mass Index ; Continental Population Groups ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Glucose ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Korea ; ROC Curve

PURPOSE: Receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG) have been shown to be important regulators of osteoclastogenesis during bone remodeling, and their expressions were examined during fracture healing in a mouse model of tibial fracture. However, studies linking RANKL and OPG in patients with head injury and fracture are lacking. We evaluated the changes in serum levels of RANKL and OPG in patients with head injury and fracture (head injury group) and in patients with fracture (fracture group) and compared these with levels found in healthy control subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 18 male patients of head injury and fracture and 20 male patients of fracture alone were enrolled. 20 healthy men were recruited to serve as controls. Within the first few hours of admission to hospital, at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after injury 20 ml of blood were obtained from 18 patients with head injury and fracture and 20 patients with fracture only. RESULTS: RANKL levels were significantly lower in the head injury group than in the fracture group at 8 and 12 weeks after injury. OPG levels were significantly higher in the head injury group than in the fracture group at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after injury. RANKL/OPG ratios were significantly lower in the head injury group than in the controls immediately after and 4, 8 and 12 weeks after injury, and were significantly lower in the head injury group than in the fracture group at 8 and 12 weeks after injury. CONCLUSION: We have shown changes in the profiles of RANKL, OPG and RANKL to OPG ratio. The altered RANKL, OPG and RANKL/OPG ratio in the head injury group lasted longer than in those of the fracture group.
Animals ; Bone Remodeling ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Fracture Healing ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Osteoprotegerin ; RANK Ligand ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; Tibial Fractures

Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Displacement (Psychology) ; Finite Element Analysis ; Imidazoles ; Nitro Compounds ; Orthopedics ; Traction

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic pancreatic ductal drainage may help alleviate the pain from chronic pancreatitis, but stricture dilatation may be technically difficult. Dilatation of high grade strictures of the pancreatic ducts with using dilating or balloon catheters may result in failure. We evaluated the efficacy of using the Soehendra stent retriever as a dilator. METHODS: Fourteen patients with pancreatic stricture had dilation performed with a Soehendra stent retriever. Each patient had sphincterotomy, guidewire placement and stent retriever dilatation. RESULTS: All procedures were successful and none of the patients had complications. Symptom relief was observed after dilation in all patients. There was no complication associated with the use of the stent retriever. None of the patients have relapsed for 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The Soehendra stent retriever is safe and effective as a dilating device for the pancreatic strictures that are resistant to conventional dilation.
Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation* ; Drainage ; Humans ; Pancreatic Ducts* ; Pancreatitis, Chronic* ; Stents*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The extraction of large common bile duct (CBD) stones after an endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is successful in 80~90% of cases but it often requires a prolonged time and repeated trials. This study investigated the utility of a combined endoscopic papillary large balloon dilatation (EPLBD) and a mid-incision of an EST (m-EST) method for the removal of large CBD stones. METHODS: Thirty patients with large CBD stones were enrolled in this study. EPLBD was carried out using the one-step inflation of a 15~18 mm diameter balloon after m-EST. RESULTS: The maximum stone diameter was 21.62+/-5.38 mm. Twelve patients had more than 4 stones, 7 patients had 2 stones, and the remainder had a single large stone. Complete ductal clearance was achieved in all patients. After the procedure, the serum amylase and/or lipase levels were elevated in 3 patients (13.3%). However, there was no episode of true pancreatitis. Minor bleeding was encountered in only one patient (3.3%), and was easily controlled by an endoscopic epinephrine injection. The procedure was carried out safely in 6 patients with periampullary diverticulum. No perforation or mortality was encountered. CONCLUSIONS: Combined EPLBD and m-EST is a safe and effective method, and may be a good alternative treatment for removing large CBD stones.
Amylases ; Bile Ducts* ; Bile* ; Choledocholithiasis ; Common Bile Duct ; Dilatation* ; Diverticulum ; Epinephrine ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflation, Economic ; Lipase ; Mortality ; Pancreatitis ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorder that has heterogeneous clinical presentations such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal distension. It is known that several mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of IBS. Probiotics may target one or more pathophysiologic pathways in IBS and may improve the symptoms of IBS. However, the results of studies about probiotics on IBS are controversial. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotics on GI symptoms and intestinal gas volume changes in patients with IBS. METHODS: Forty patients were randomly allocated to be treated with medilac DS(R) (Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus faecium) (n=20) or placebo (n=20) in a double-blind, prospective manner. The change in intestinal gas volume and symptom scores after 4-week treatment were evaluated for the efficacy. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in bloating, frequency of gas expulsion, frequency of defecation, and hardness of stool before and after the treatment. However, the severity of abdominal pain and the frequency of abdominal pain decreased significantly in medilac DS(R)group (2.4+/-1.3 cm/day -> 1.6+/-1.6 cm/day, 1.7+/-1.3/day -> 1.0+/-1.0/day) (p=0.044, p=0.038), but not in placebo group (2.1+/-2.0 cm/day -> 1.8+/-2.1 cm/day, 1.3+/-1.2/day -> 1.4+/-1.9/day). In both groups, intestinal gas volume at baseline, after 2-week treatment, and after 4-week treatment did not show significant change. Medilac DS(R)was well tolerated without adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Medilac DS(R)is a safe and useful probiotic agent for the treatment of abdominal pain in patients with IBS.
Abdominal Pain/etiology/therapy ; Adult ; Bacillus subtilis ; Double-Blind Method ; Enterococcus faecium ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorder that has heterogeneous clinical presentations such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal distension. It is known that several mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of IBS. Probiotics may target one or more pathophysiologic pathways in IBS and may improve the symptoms of IBS. However, the results of studies about probiotics on IBS are controversial. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotics on GI symptoms and intestinal gas volume changes in patients with IBS. METHODS: Forty patients were randomly allocated to be treated with medilac DS(R) (Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus faecium) (n=20) or placebo (n=20) in a double-blind, prospective manner. The change in intestinal gas volume and symptom scores after 4-week treatment were evaluated for the efficacy. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in bloating, frequency of gas expulsion, frequency of defecation, and hardness of stool before and after the treatment. However, the severity of abdominal pain and the frequency of abdominal pain decreased significantly in medilac DS(R)group (2.4+/-1.3 cm/day -> 1.6+/-1.6 cm/day, 1.7+/-1.3/day -> 1.0+/-1.0/day) (p=0.044, p=0.038), but not in placebo group (2.1+/-2.0 cm/day -> 1.8+/-2.1 cm/day, 1.3+/-1.2/day -> 1.4+/-1.9/day). In both groups, intestinal gas volume at baseline, after 2-week treatment, and after 4-week treatment did not show significant change. Medilac DS(R)was well tolerated without adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Medilac DS(R)is a safe and useful probiotic agent for the treatment of abdominal pain in patients with IBS.
Abdominal Pain/etiology/therapy ; Adult ; Bacillus subtilis ; Double-Blind Method ; Enterococcus faecium ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use

Congenital Abnormalities ; Dental Arch ; Dentofacial Deformities ; Esthetics ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Maxilla ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Vertical Dimension