Comparison of a Deep Learning-Based Reconstruction Algorithm with Filtered Back Projection and Iterative Reconstruction Algorithms for Pediatric Abdominopelvic CT

Objective@#To compare a deep learning-based reconstruction (DLR) algorithm for pediatric abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) with filtered back projection (FBP) and iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms. @*Materials and Methods@#Post-contrast abdominopelvic CT scans obtained from 120 pediatric patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 8.7 ± 5.2 years; 60 males) between May 2020 and October 2020 were evaluated in this retrospective study. Images were reconstructed using FBP, a hybrid IR algorithm (ASiR-V) with blending factors of 50% and 100% (AV50 and AV100, respectively), and a DLR algorithm (TrueFidelity) with three strength levels (low, medium, and high). Noise power spectrum (NPS) and edge rise distance (ERD) were used to evaluate noise characteristics and spatial resolution, respectively. Image noise, edge definition, overall image quality, lesion detectability and conspicuity, and artifacts were qualitatively scored by two pediatric radiologists, and the scores of the two reviewers were averaged. A repeated-measures analysis of variance followed by the Bonferroni post-hoc test was used to compare NPS and ERD among the six reconstruction methods. The Friedman rank sum test followed by the Nemenyi-Wilcoxon-Wilcox all-pairs test was used to compare the results of the qualitative visual analysis among the six reconstruction methods. @*Results@#The NPS noise magnitude of AV100 was significantly lower than that of the DLR, whereas the NPS peak of AV100 was significantly higher than that of the high- and medium-strength DLR (p < 0.001). The NPS average spatial frequencies were higher for DLR than for ASiR-V (p < 0.001). ERD was shorter with DLR than with ASiR-V and FBP (p < 0.001). Qualitative visual analysis revealed better overall image quality with high-strength DLR than with ASiR-V (p < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#For pediatric abdominopelvic CT, the DLR algorithm may provide improved noise characteristics and better spatial resolution than the hybrid IR algorithm.

The Effects of Adjunctive Steroids in the Treatment of Peritonsillar Abscess / 대한이비인후과학회지

Background and Objectives@#Steroids have strong anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, and antipyretic effects. Since there are few studies on the use of steroids in the treatment of peritonsillar abscess in Korea, we aimed at this study to investigate the effects of steroids along with antibiotics in the treatment of peritonsillar abscess.Subjects and Method A retrospective study was conducted on 75 patients who were admitted from 2014 to 2019. Between 2014 and 2017, only antibiotics were administrated after incisional drainage (no-use group), but between 2018 and 2019, antibiotics and adjunctive steroids were administrated after incisional drainage (steroids group). Symptoms of patients, blood tests, diets available, and hospitalization period were compared between the two groups. @*Results@#The length of hospital stay for the steroids group (n=24) and the no-use group (n=51) was 4.2±1.3 days and of 5.1±1.8 days (p=0.046), respectively, showing significantly shortened time for the steroids group. The rate of change in 48-hour C-reactive protein was 53.3% and 20% for the steroid group and no-use group (p=0.013), respectively. However, there was no differences between the two groups in the rate of change in body temperature at 12 hours of treatment, the diet available at 12 hours, and rate of change in the number of white blood cells after 48 hours of treatment. @*Conclusion@#Adjunctive steroids for peritonsillar abscess can be a useful treatment that shows rapid improvement of symptoms and C-reactive protein, and shorter hospitalization periods.

Bilateral Ocular Toxoplasmosis that Caused Optic Atrophy Secondary to Papillitis

Purpose@#We report a case of ocular toxoplasmosis that caused bilateral optic atrophy secondary to papillitis.Case summary: A 52-year-old male with no history of systemic disease was referred to our clinic because of visual field blurring in the left eye for four weeks. The visual acuity was 20/20 in the right eye and 20/25 in the left eye. A relative afferent pupillary defect and diffuse field loss were noted in the left eye. On fundus examination, left-side blurring of the disc margin and a peripapillary hemorrhage were evident, but there was no sign of inflammation in the right fundus. Systemic evaluation, including brain magnetic resonance imaging, was performed for differential diagnosis of left papillitis. Immunoserologically, he was positive for toxoplasma immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG. We diagnosed ocular toxoplasmosis presenting as left papillitis, and systemic antibiotics and a steroid were started. After six weeks, the left disc swelling was reduced but disc pallor was evident and his visual acuity decreased to 20/40. A new inflammatory lesion of the right optic disc developed two weeks after the medication was stopped, so the treatment was applied for a further two months. However, bilateral optic atrophy developed. @*Conclusions@#Bilateral papillitis caused by ocular toxoplasmosis may trigger optic atrophy secondary to optic nerve involvement.When a patient presents with disc swelling suggestive of papillitis caused by ocular toxoplasmosis, rapid and aggressive antitoxoplasma treatment is essential to avoid a poor visual outcome.

Relationship between Self-Esteem and Self-Consciousness in Adolescents: An Eye-Tracking Study

OBJECTIVE: Self-esteem and self-consciousness are important determinants of behaviors. This study aimed to explore the relationship between self-esteem and self-consciousness in adolescents using the eye-tracking measurement. METHODS: Fifty-five adolescents with high self-esteem and 58 adolescents with low self-esteem participated in self-consciousness-related eye-tracking experiments of selecting happy, disgusted, and angry facial emotions while recognizing one's own usual expressions and the others' usual expressions toward oneself. RESULTS: When recognizing one's own, adolescents with high self-esteem showed significantly more selection counts and longer fixation time for ‘happy’ than adolescents with low self-esteem. When recognizing the others', adolescents with low self-esteem showed significantly more selection counts and longer fixation time for ‘disgusted’ and ‘angry’ than adolescents with high self-esteem. CONCLUSION: These suggest higher self-esteem is connected to more positive identification of one's usual expressions and others' usual expressions toward oneself. There is a close relationship among low self-esteem, suppressing positive emotions, decreased psychological adjustment, and increased negative emotions.

Pagetoid Bowen Disease Initially Misdiagnosed as Ectopic Extramammary Paget's Disease

Pagetoid Bowen disease is a histological variant of Bowen disease which demonstrates large pale staining cells (pagetoid cells). It requires differential diagnosis from other cutaneous malignancies with similar patterns, such as extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) and Pagetoid melanoma in situ. Herein, we report a case of Pagetoid Bowen disease which was initially misdiagnosed as ectopic EMPD.

Trend of Bacteria and Fungi Isolated from Cerebrospinal Fluid Culture in a Tertiary Care Hospital During Recent Two Decades (1997-2016) / 대한임상미생물학회지

BACKGROUND: Meningitis is a clinically important disease because of its high mortality and morbidity. The epidemiology of this disease has changed remarkably due to the introduction of pneumococcal vaccines and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine. Therefore, it is required to continuously monitor and research the organisms isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures. METHODS: We analyzed trends of bacteria and fungi isolates obtained from CSF cultures between 1997 and 2016 in a tertiary care hospital according to year, month, gender, and age. RESULTS: Out of a total of 38,450 samples, we identified 504 (1.3%) isolates. The isolation rate in the first tested decade (1997–2006) ranged from 1.3% to 3.1%, while that in the second decade (2007–2016) ranged from 0.4% to 1.5%. The most common organisms was coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (31.9%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (9.5%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (7.5%), Acinetobacter baumannii (5.8%), and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (5.8%). Monthly isolation rates were highest in May and July and lowest in February and December. Male to female ratio was 1.5:1. The isolation rates of S. pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecium, and Escherichia coli were similar in children and adults, but those of S. aureus, E. faecalis, A. baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, M. tuberculosis, and Cryptococcus neoformans were higher in adults than in children. CONCLUSION: During the last two decades, the isolation rate of CSF culture per year has decreased, with monthly isolation rates being highest in May and July. CoNS, S. aureus, and S. pneumoniae were most common in males, whereas CoNS, S. pneumoniae, and M. tuberculosis were most common in females. While Group B Streptococcus was most common in infants younger than 1 year, S. aureus and C. neoformans were more common in adults.

A Case Report of Cervical Chondrocutaneous Branchial Remnants / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.