Association between the Urine Cotinine Level and Blood Pressure in Korean Adults with Secondhand Smoke Exposure: Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2016–2018 / 가정의학회지

Background@#Similar to smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke is a risk factor for developing hypertension and cardiovascular diseases; however, there is no standardized method for measuring smoke exposure. Measuring urine cotinine levels is one possible means for determining the degree of exposure to secondhand smoke. This study investigated the association between urinary cotinine levels and blood pressure in Korean adults exposed to secondhand smoke. @*Methods@#Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2016 and 2018 were used. A total of 9,273 participants aged ≥19 years self-reported as current non-smokers, which was cotinine- verified. A complex sample general linear model regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between urine cotinine and blood pressure. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. @*Results@#Corrected urine cotinine levels were positively associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure in female participants (P<0.001 and P=0.040, respectively). Furthermore, a 10-fold increase in the corrected urine cotinine level of those in contact with secondhand smoke was independently associated with 2.085 mm Hg and 0.575 mm Hg increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively. However, there was no association between systolic and diastolic blood pressure in male participants (P=0.226 and P=0.256, respectively). @*Conclusion@#Urinary cotinine levels were positively associated with increased blood pressure in females exposed to secondhand smoke. Therefore, urinary cotinine may be used as an indicator to quantify and monitor the effects of blood pressure elevation in females exposed to secondhand smoke.

Ethanol Ablation of the Thyroid Nodules: 2018 Consensus Statement by the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology

Minimally invasive treatment of symptomatic thyroid nodules is now commonplace. Ethanol ablation (EA) of thyroid cystic nodules has been performed since the 1990s, but there is no global consensus or guideline. Although various limitations of EA have been described, recommendations for practical application are necessary. Therefore, the Task Force Committee of the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology initiated the present consensus statement and here we provide recommendations for the role of EA in the management of symptomatic thyroid nodules. These recommendations are based on evidence to date from the literature and expert opinion.

Core Needle Biopsy of the Thyroid: 2016 Consensus Statement and Recommendations from Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology

Core needle biopsy (CNB) has been suggested as a complementary diagnostic method to fine-needle aspiration in patients with thyroid nodules. Many recent CNB studies have suggested a more advanced role for CNB, but there are still no guidelines on its use. Therefore, the Task Force Committee of the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology has developed the present consensus statement and recommendations for the role of CNB in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. These recommendations are based on evidence from the current literature and expert consensus.

Efficacy of Percutaneous Ethanol Injection for Benign Neck Cyst / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Advantages of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) were represented by insignificant mortality, minimal damage to normal parenchyma, relatively low cost and easy availability. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of ethanol ablation as a minimally invasive management of cystic lesions in the neck or arising from the neck. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Between August 2010 and December 2015, 28 patients with cystic lesions in the neck were diagnosed and treated with percutaneous ethanol injection. We evaluated the outcome of treatment using the alteration of volume reduction and the improvement of symptomatic and cosmetic complaints and complications. RESULTS: The initial mean tumor volume was 21 mL (range, 1.6-36.9 mL), as shown by ultrasonography. The mean number of the treatment sessions was 3.5 (range, 1-9 sessions). At the last follow-up, the mean volume of the treated neck cyst decreased significantly from 21 mL to 2.7 mL (p<0.001). The average volume reduction rate was 82.4% with the success rate of procedure of 82%. The mean symptoms and cosmetics visual analog scale improved from 5.4 to 2.4 and from 4.8 to 1.5 (p<0.001). No significant complications were observed during follow-ups. CONCLUSION: PEI is simple, easy, safe, and effective without surgical scars and hospitalization for neck cyst patients and favorable outcomes can be achieved without significant complications. It can be used as a substitute for surgery in the treatment of benign neck cyst lesions.

Ultrasonography Diagnosis and Imaging-Based Management of Thyroid Nodules: Revised Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology Consensus Statement and Recommendations

The rate of detection of thyroid nodules and carcinomas has increased with the widespread use of ultrasonography (US), which is the mainstay for the detection and risk stratification of thyroid nodules as well as for providing guidance for their biopsy and nonsurgical treatment. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) published their first recommendations for the US-based diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules in 2011. These recommendations have been used as the standard guidelines for the past several years in Korea. Lately, the application of US has been further emphasized for the personalized management of patients with thyroid nodules. The Task Force on Thyroid Nodules of the KSThR has revised the recommendations for the ultrasound diagnosis and imaging-based management of thyroid nodules. The review and recommendations in this report have been based on a comprehensive analysis of the current literature and the consensus of experts.

Image Reporting and Characterization System for Ultrasound Features of Thyroid Nodules: Multicentric Korean Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this retrospective study was to develop and validate a simple diagnostic prediction model by using ultrasound (US) features of thyroid nodules obtained from multicenter retrospective data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patient data were collected from 20 different institutions and the data included 2000 thyroid nodules from 1796 patients. For developing a diagnostic prediction model to estimate the malignant risk of thyroid nodules using suspicious malignant US features, we developed a training model in a subset of 1402 nodules from 1260 patients. Several suspicious malignant US features were evaluated to create the prediction model using a scoring tool. The scores for such US features were estimated by calculating odds ratios, and the risk score of malignancy for each thyroid nodule was defined as the sum of these individual scores. Later, we verified the usefulness of developed scoring system by applying into the remaining 598 nodules from 536 patients. RESULTS: Among 2000 tumors, 1268 were benign and 732 were malignant. In our multiple regression analysis models, the following US features were statistically significant for malignant nodules when using the training data set: hypoechogenicity, marked hypoechogenicity, non-parallel orientation, microlobulated or spiculated margin, ill-defined margins, and microcalcifications. The malignancy rate was 7.3% in thyroid nodules that did not have suspicious-malignant features on US. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.867, which shows that the US risk score help predict thyroid malignancy well. In the test data set, the malignancy rates were 6.2% in thyroid nodules without malignant features on US. Area under the ROC curve of the test set was 0.872 when using the prediction model. CONCLUSION: The predictor model using suspicious malignant US features may be helpful in risk stratification of thyroid nodules.

Erratum: Image Reporting and Characterization System for Ultrasound Features of Thyroid Nodules: Multicentric Korean Retrospective Study

On page 110, the author (Won-Jin Moon)'s affiliation has been incorrectly marked as 6Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 143-729, Korea. The correct affiliation is 5Department of Radiology, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 143-729, Korea.

Core Needle Biopsy of Thyroid Nodules: Consensus Statement and Recommendations

Core needle biopsy is a complementary diagnostic method of fine needle aspiration for patients with thyroid nodules. The Task Force Committee of the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology has developed recommendations for diagnosis of thyroid nodules and recurrent thyroid cancers using core needle biopsy. These recommendations are based on evidence from the current literature and expert consensus.

Radiofrequency Ablation of Benign Thyroid Nodules and Recurrent Thyroid Cancers: Consensus Statement and Recommendations

Radiofrequency ablation is a new non-surgical treatment modality for patients with benign thyroid nodules and recurrent thyroid cancers. The Task Force Committee of the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology has developed recommendations for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules and recurrent thyroid cancers using radiofrequency ablation. These recommendations are based on evidence from the current literature and expert consensus.

Radiofrequency Ablation of Benign Thyroid Nodules and Recurrent Thyroid Cancers: Consensus Statement and Recommendations

Thermal ablation using radiofrequency is a new, minimally invasive modality employed as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules and recurrent thyroid cancers. The Task Force Committee of the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology has developed recommendations for the optimal use of radiofrequency ablation for thyroid nodules. These recommendations are based on a comprehensive analysis of the current literature, the results of multicenter studies, and expert consensus.

Detection of BRAF(V600E) Mutation using Peptide Nucleic Acid-Mediated PCR Clamping Method in Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of a peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-mediated PCR clamping method for the detection of BRAFV600E mutations in fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). METHODS: One hundred sixty four patients underwent FNAC to evaluate BRAFV600E mutations between April 2011 and November 2011. Among them, forty-two patients were diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma in a permanent pathologic specimen. A PNA-mediated PCR clamping method and a Dual-Priming Oligonucleotide (DPO)-based Real-time PCR method were used to detect the BRAFV600E mutation. We compared the result of mutation between the two methods. RESULTS: A BRAF mutation was found in 31 samples created by the PNA-mediated PCR clamping method, and in 28 samples in the DPO-based Real-time PCR method. The rate of BRAF mutation was 73.8% in association with the PNA-mediated PCR clamping method, and 66.7% in association with the DPO-based Real-time PCR method. There was no statistical differences between the two methods (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The PNA-mediated PCR clamping method may be an alternative to the DPO-based Real-Time PCR method for detection of BRAF mutations in thyroid nodules.

Ultrasonography and the Ultrasound-Based Management of Thyroid Nodules: Consensus Statement and Recommendations

The detection of thyroid nodules has become more common with the widespread use of ultrasonography (US). US is the mainstay for detecting and making the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules as well as for providing guidance for a biopsy. The Task Force on Thyroid Nodules of the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology has developed recommendations for the US diagnosis and US-based management of thyroid nodules. The review and recommendations in this report have been based on a comprehensive analysis of the current literature, the results of multicenter studies and from the consensus of experts.

Clinical observation of the ocular complications in Leprosy patients / 나학회지

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of ocular complications in leprosy patients. METHODS: Screening ocular examinations were performed in 572 leprosy patients, who resided in National sorokdo hospital from May to October, 2011. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of ocular complications was 87.1%. Ocular complication was significantly associated with increasing age. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of the ocular complication among males and females. Lepromatous leprosy patients had the greatest prevalence of ocular lesion. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant rate of ocular complications in leprosy patients in the National sorokdo hospital, and had a potentially sight-threatening ocular complication. Health professionals need to be new eye symptoms and signs require prompt ophthalmology review to prevent avoidable blindness, due to the life-long risk of sight-threatening ocular complications.

Radiofrequency Ablation of Benign Thyroid Nodules: Preliminary Report / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and volume reduction of ultrasonography-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for benign thyroid nodules. METHODS: Twelve benign thyroid nodules in 11 euthyroid patients underwent RFA between January 2010 and December 2010. RFA was carried out using an internally cooled electrode under local anesthesia. Thyroid nodule volume was evaluated before RFA and during follow-up. RESULTS: The mean initial volume was 8.9 ml (0.4~33.0 ml). After RFA, the mean volume was decreased to 3.6 ml (0.1~17.0 ml) with statiscal significance (P=0.003). The mean volume reduction rate was 64.6% (25.5~95.4%). Most patients complained of pain during or after RFA, but the pain was relieved with oral analgesics. There was vocal cord palsy in one patient, who recovered one month after RFA. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography-guided RFA is a safe modality effective at reducing volume of benign thyroid nodules.