摘要
Background/Aims@#Quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) is believed to identify patients at risk of poor outcomes in those with suspected infection. We aimed to evaluate the ability of modified qSOFA (m-qSOFA) to identify high-risk patients among those with acutely deteriorated chronic liver disease (CLD), especially those with acute-onchronic liver failure (ACLF). @*Methods@#We used data from both the Korean Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (KACLiF) and the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver ACLF Research Consortium (AARC) cohorts. qSOFA was modified by replacing the Glasgow Coma Scale with hepatic encephalopathy, and an m-qSOFA ≥2 was considered high. @*Results@#Patients with high m-qSOFA had a significantly lower 1-month transplant-free survival (TFS) in both cohorts and higher organ failure development in KACLiF than those with low m-qSOFA (Ps<0.05). Subgroup analysis by ACLF showed that patients with high m-qSOFA had lower TFS than those with low m-qSOFA. m-qSOFA was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratios, HR=2.604, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.353–5.013, P=0.004 in KACLiF and HR=1.904, 95% CI 1.484– 2.442, P<0.001 in AARC). The patients with low m-qSOFA at baseline but high m-qSOFA on day 7 had a significantly lower 1-month TFS than those with high m-qSOFA at baseline but low m-qSOFA on day 7 (52.6% vs. 89.4%, P<0.001 in KACLiF and 26.9% vs. 61.5%, P<0.001 in AARC). @*Conclusions@#Baseline and dynamic changes in m-qSOFA may identify patients with a high risk of developing organ failure and short-term mortality among CLD patients with acute deterioration.
摘要
Background@#Treatment of comminuted patellar fractures accompanied by coronal split articular and inferior pole fragments is a challenge. To treat this difficult fracture, we perform articular fragment detachment and separate fixation for coronal split articular and inferior pole fragments. We aimed to evaluate the radiological and clinical outcomes of our technique in comminuted patellar fractures at least 1 year after surgery. @*Methods@#Between January 2019 and June 2022, 15 patients diagnosed with comminuted patellar fractures accompanied by coronal split articular and inferior pole fragments based on preoperative computed tomography underwent surgery using the articular detachment technique. The key point of this technique was anatomical reduction and subchondral fixation of the coronal split articular fragment to the superior main fragment after complete detachment of the coronal split fragment from the inferior pole. The remaining inferior pole was fixed using a separate construct. Postoperative articular gap, articular step-off, and complications, including resorption, reduction loss, and avascular necrosis of fixed articular fragments, were evaluated as radiological outcomes. Range of motion and the Lysholm scores were used to evaluate clinical outcomes. @*Results@#Among the 15 patients, the coronal split articular fragments were fixed using Kirschner wires in 13 patients and headless screws in 2 patients. The inferior poles were fixed using separate vertical wiring in 13 patients and tension-band wiring in 2 patients. A postoperative articular gap was noted in 7 patients, with an average articular gap of 1.0 mm (range, 0.7–1.6 mm). No articular step-off was observed. Bone union and normal range of motion were achieved in all patients. On the 1-year postoperative lateral radiograph, resorption of the articular fracture site was seen in 5 patients. There was no loss of reduction or avascular necrosis of the coronal split articular fragments. The average postoperative Lysholm score at 1 year was 89.3 ± 4.1 (range, 82–95). @*Conclusions@#The technique would be a reliable and safe option for the surgical treatment of comminuted patellar fractures accompanied by coronal split articular and inferior pole fragments in terms of anatomical reduction and stable fixation of articular fragments without risk of avascular necrosis.
摘要
Background/Aims@#This study aimed to assess whether hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) could have favorable prognoses with proper treatment under selective conditions. @*Methods@#This retrospective, single-center study involved 1,168 patients diagnosed with HCC between January 2005 and December 2006, before the introduction of sorafenib. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify and adjust the variables associated with OS. @*Results@#In nodular-type HCC, the OS differed significantly according to the presence of PVTT (log-rank p<0.001), and the level of PVTT, not only its presence, was a major independent factor affecting OS. PVTT at the Vp1-3 branch was associated with significantly longer OS than was PVTT at the Vp4 level (hazard ratio [HR], 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 3.21). In multivariate analysis, the OS was further stratified according to the PVTT level and tumor type, representing that nodular HCC without PVTT exhibited the best OS, whereas nodular HCC with Vp4 PVTT (adjusted HR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.57 to 4.28) showed a poor prognosis similar to that of infiltrative HCC. The PVTT level was consistently correlated with OS in patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization. Nodular HCC without PVTT showed the best prognosis, while nodular HCC with Vp1-3 PVTT also exhibited a favorable OS, although inferior to that without PVTT (adjusted HR, 1.47, 95% CI, 0.92 to 2.36). @*Conclusions@#Active treatment such as transarterial chemoembolization can be considered for selected PVTT cases. The level of PVTT and type of HCC were independent prognostic factors.
摘要
Background@#The purpose of this study is to investigate the epidemiological changes in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and assess the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) over the past 15 years in a region endemic to hepatitis B virus (HBV). @*Methods@#National Health Insurance Service claims data of hepatitis B patients spanning from 2007 to 2021 was utilized. To compare the characteristics of the hepatitis B group, a control group adjusted for age and gender through propensity score matching analysis was established. @*Results@#The number of patients with CHB has consistently increased over the past 15 years.The average age of the CHB patient group has shown a yearly rise, while the prevalence of male dominance has gradually diminished. The proportions of hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cirrhosis, and decompensation have exhibited a declining pattern, whereas the proportion of liver transplants has continuously risen. Patients with CHB have demonstrated significantly higher medical and medication costs compared to the control group. Moreover, patients with CHB have shown a higher prevalence of comorbidities along with a significantly higher rate of concomitant medication usage. During the COVID period, the HBV group experienced a substantial decrease in the number of outpatient visits and overall medical costs compared to the control group. @*Conclusion@#The epidemiology of CHB has undergone significant changes over the past 15 years, encompassing shifts in prevalence, severity, medical costs, and comorbidities.Furthermore, the impact of COVID-19 has been observed to decrease healthcare utilization among patients with CHB when compared to controls.
摘要
Background@#and Purpose The additive effects of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) before mechanical thrombectomy (MT) remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of IVT prior to MT depending on the location of M1 occlusion. @*Methods@#We reviewed the cases of patients who underwent MT for emergent large-vessel occlusion of the M1 segment. Baseline characteristics as well as clinical and periprocedural variables were compared according to the location of M1 occlusion (i.e., proximal and distal M1 occlusion). The main outcome was the achievement of functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2) at 3 months after stroke. The main outcomes were compared between the proximal and distal groups based on the use of IVT before MT. @*Results@#Among 271 patients (proximal occlusion, 44.6%; distal occlusion, 55.4%), 33.9% (41/121) with proximal occlusion and 24.7% (37/150) with distal occlusion underwent IVT prior to MT. Largeartery atherosclerosis was more common in patients with proximal M1 occlusion; cardioembolism was more common in those with distal M1 occlusion. In patients with proximal M1 occlusion, there was no association between IVT before MT and functional independence. In contrast, there was a significant association between the use of IVT prior to MT (odds ratio=5.30, 95% confidence interval=1.56–18.05, P=0.007) and functional independence in patients with distal M1 occlusion. @*Conclusion@#IVT before MT was associated with improved functional outcomes in patients with M1 occlusion, especially in those with distal M1 occlusion but not in those with proximal M1 occlusion.
摘要
Background@#and Purpose The accurate prediction of functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is crucial for informed clinical decision-making and optimal resource utilization. As such, this study aimed to construct an ensemble deep learning model that integrates multimodal imaging and clinical data to predict the 90-day functional outcomes after AIS. @*Methods@#We used data from the Korean Stroke Neuroimaging Initiative database, a prospective multicenter stroke registry to construct an ensemble model integrated individual 3D convolutional neural networks for diffusion-weighted imaging and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), along with a deep neural network for clinical data, to predict 90-day functional independence after AIS using a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 3–6. To evaluate the performance of the ensemble model, we compared the area under the curve (AUC) of the proposed method with that of individual models trained on each modality to identify patients with AIS with an mRS score of 3–6. @*Results@#Of the 2,606 patients with AIS, 993 (38.1%) achieved an mRS score of 3–6 at 90 days post-stroke. Our model achieved AUC values of 0.830 (standard cross-validation [CV]) and 0.779 (time-based CV), which significantly outperformed the other models relying on single modalities: b-value of 1,000 s/mm2 (P<0.001), apparent diffusion coefficient map (P<0.001), FLAIR (P<0.001), and clinical data (P=0.004). @*Conclusion@#The integration of multimodal imaging and clinical data resulted in superior prediction of the 90-day functional outcomes in AIS patients compared to the use of a single data modality.
摘要
Neuro-Behcet’s disease (NBD) is defined as neurological involvement in Behcet’s disease. A 32-year-old man was admitted due to sudden memory impairment and had a history of recurrent oral/genital ulcers. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed ischemic lesions in the bilateral fornix and left thalamus, and high-resolution vessel wall MRI demonstrated vasculitis in the anterior communicating artery. We report a rare case of NBD that presented as vasculitis and ischemic stroke in the bilateral fornix and thalamus.
摘要
Background@#Although the optimal duration of breastfeeding remains unclear, breastfeeding is generally recommended exclusively for the first 6 months of life, which continues into late infancy. However, the awareness regarding the effects of long-term breastfeeding is relatively low compared with that of breastfeeding in early infancy. We aimed to investigate the growth and nutritional characteristics of the children with prolonged breastfeeding (PBF) over 1 year. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study was based on the data of children aged 12 to 23 months from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2020) conducted by the Korean Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Data on anthropometric measurements, dietary behavior, and food and nutrient intake were extracted, and the association between PBF and growth, nutritional status, and dietary patterns were analyzed. @*Results@#Of the 872 children with a birth weight of ≥ 2.5 kg in the final analysis, 34.2% continued breastfeeding over 12 months of age, and their median breastfeeding duration was 14.2 months. Children with PBF were more likely to have lower current body weight (P < 0.001) and weight gain (P < 0.001), lower daily protein (P = 0.012), calcium (P < 0.001), and iron (P < 0.001) intake per calorie compared with children weaned by 12 months of age or those who were never breastfed. Furthermore, they were started on complementary food at 6 months or later rather than 4–5 months (P < 0.001), consumed cow’s milk earlier (P = 0.012), and consumed probiotics as dietary supplements (P < 0.001) significantly less commonly. When comparing the intake of food groups, children with PBF had a significantly higher intake of cereals and grains (P = 0.023) and fruits (P = 0.020) and a significantly lower intake of bean products (P = 0.020) and milk and dairy products (P = 0.003). @*Conclusion@#Korean children who continued breastfeeding over 12 months of age showed distinct characteristics in terms of growth, nutritional status, and dietary patterns in the second year of life compared to children who did not. Long-term additional research on their growth and nutritional status may be needed; however, these findings are significant as important fundamental data for nutritional counseling to establish healthy PBF.
摘要
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral infectious disease that occurs in children under 5 years of age. Its main causes are coxsackievirus (CV) and enterovirus (EV). Since there are no efficient therapeutics for HFMD, vaccines are effective in preventing the disease. To develop broad coverage against CV and EV, the development of a bivalent vaccine form is needed. The Mongolian gerbil is an efficient and suitable animal model of EV71 C4a and CVA16 infection used to investigate vaccine efficacy following direct immunization. In this study, Mongolian gerbils were immunized with a bivalent inactivated EV71 C4a and inactivated CVA16 vaccine to test their effectiveness against viral infection. Bivalent vaccine immunization resulted in increased Ag-specific IgG antibody production; specifically, EV71 C4a-specific IgG was increased with medium and high doses and CVA16-specific IgG was increased with all doses of immunization. When gene expression of T cell-biased cytokines was analysed, Th1, Th2, and Th17 responses were found to be highly activated in the high-dose immunization group. Moreover, bivalent vaccine immunization mitigated paralytic signs and increased the survival rate following lethal viral challenges. When the viral RNA content was determined from various organs, all three doses of bivalent vaccine immunization were found to significantly decrease viral amplification. Upon histologic examination, EV71 C4a and CVA16 induced tissue damage to the heart and muscle. However, bivalent vaccine immunization alleviated this in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the bivalent inactivated EV71 C4a/CVA16 vaccine could be a safe and effective candidate HFMD vaccine.
摘要
Background/Aims@#To eliminate hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria in 2021, this study investigated the national core indicators representing the current status of viral hepatitis B and C in South Korea. @*Methods@#We analyzed the incidence, linkage-to-care, treatment, and mortality rates of HBV and HCV infection using the integrated nationwide big data of South Korea. @*Results@#According to data from 2018–2020, the incidence of acute HBV infection in South Korea was 0.71 cases per 100,000 population; tthe linkage-to-care rate was only 39.4%. Among those who need hepatitis B treatment, the treatment rate was 67.3%, which was less than 80% reported in the WHO program index. The annual liver-related mortality due to HBV was 18.85 cases per 100,000 population, exceeding the WHO target of four; the most frequent cause of death was liver cancer (54.1%). The annual incidence of newly diagnosed HCV infection was 11.9 cases per 100,000 population, which was higher than the WHO impact target of five. Among HCV-infected patients, the linkage-to-care rate was 65.5% while the treatment rate was 56.8%, which were below the targets of 90% and 80%, respectively. The liver-related annual mortality rate due to HCV infection was 2.02 cases per 100,000 population. @*Conclusions@#Many of the current indicators identified in the Korean population did not satisfy the WHO criteria for validation of viral hepatitis elimination. Hence, a comprehensive national strategy should be urgently developed with continuous monitoring of the targets in South Korea.
摘要
Therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is determined by biodistribution and engraftment in vivo.Compared to intravenous infusion, biodistribution of locally transplanted MSCs are partially understood. Here, we performed a pharmacokinetics (PK) study of MSCs after local transplantation. We grafted human MSCs into the brains of immune-compromised nude mice. Then we extracted genomic DNA from brains, lungs, and livers after transplantation over a month. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction with human Alu-specific primers, we analyzed biodistribution of the transplanted cells. To evaluate the role of residual immune response in the brain, MSCs expressing a cytosine deaminase (MSCs/CD) were used to ablate resident immune cells at the injection site. The majority of the Alu signals mostly remained at the injection site and decreased over a week, finally becoming undetectable after one month. Negligible signals were transiently detected in the lung and liver during the first week. Suppression of Iba1-positive microglia in the vicinity of the injection site using MSCs/CD prolonged the presence of the Alu signals.After local transplantation in xenograft animal models, human MSCs remain predominantly near the injection site for limited time without disseminating to other organs. Transplantation of human MSCs can locally elicit an immune response in immune compromised animals, and suppressing resident immune cells can prolong the presence of transplanted cells. Our study provides valuable insights into the in vivo fate of locally transplanted stem cells and a local delivery is effective to achieve desired dosages for neurological diseases.
摘要
Recently, ex-vivo gene therapy has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by introducing functional genes in vitro. Here, we explored the need of using selection markers to increase the gene delivery efficiency and evaluated the potential risks associated with their use in the manufacturing process. We used MSCs/CD that carry the cytosine deaminase gene (CD) as a therapeutic gene and a puromycin resistance gene (PuroR) as a selection marker. We evaluated the correlation between the therapeutic efficacy and the purity of therapeutic MSCs/CD by examining their anti-cancer effect on co-cultured U87/GFP cells. To simulate in vivo horizontal transfer of the PuroR gene in vivo, we generated a puromycin-resistant
摘要
Background/Aims@#Immunocompromised patients with acute colonic diverticulitis are at high risk for complications and failure of non-surgical treatment. However, evidence on the comparative outcomes of immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with diverticulitis is lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the outcomes of medical treatment in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with diverticulitis. @*Methods@#A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Studies comparing the clinical outcomes of immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with diverticulitis were included. @*Results@#A total of 10 studies with 1,946,461 subjects were included in the quantitative synthesis. The risk of emergency surgery and postoperative mortality after emergency surgery was significantly higher in immunocompromised patients than in immunocompetent patients with diverticulitis (risk ratio [RR], 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31–2.38 and RR, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.70–5.45, respectively). Overall risk of complications associated with diverticulitis was non-significantly higher in immunocompromised than in immunocompetent patients (RR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.95–1.63). Overall mortality irrespective of surgery was significantly higher in immunocompromised than in immunocompetent patients with diverticulitis (RR, 3.65; 95% CI, 1.73–7.69). By contrast, postoperative mortality after elective surgery was not significantly different between immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with diverticulitis. In subgroup analysis, the risk of emergency surgery and recurrence was significantly higher in immunocompromised patients with complicated diverticulitis, whereas no significant difference was shown in mild disease. @*Conclusions@#Immunocompromised patients with diverticulitis should be given the best medical treatment with multidisciplinary approach because they had increased risks of surgery, postoperative morbidity, and mortality than immunocompetent patients.
摘要
Background@#International authorities recommend prolonged breastfeeding (PBF) for 12–24 months or more with 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). Based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data, this study attempted to help encourage and educate breastfeeding (BF) over 1 year by investigating long-term BF trends and related factors in Korean infants and their mothers. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study was based on data on children aged 12–23 months and their mothers from 2010 to 2020. BF rates were compared between KNHANES V (2010– 2012), KNHANES VI (2013–2015), KNHANES VII (2016–2018), and part of KNHANES VIII (2019–2020). In addition, data related to mothers and infants, including demographics, socioeconomic, educational, and health status, were collected, and their association with BF status was analyzed. @*Results@#Of the 933 infants included in the study, the proportions achieving full BF at 6 months of age and PBF at 12 and 18 months were 34.8%, 33.7%, and 7.1%, respectively.Over the past 10 years, the trends of all three BF practices have significantly decreased since 2016 (P < 0.001). Of the 849 infants whose maternal data were available, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that EBF for 6 months (defined as full BF at 1, 3, and 6 months of age) positively correlated with maternal and infants’ factors such as unemployed status, past BF experience, no history of drinking, and infants’ birth weight of ≥ 2.5 kg. The mother’s education level, particularly the nutrition label impact, current employment status, and smoking and drinking status, were significantly associated with PBF for ≥ 12 months but were not related to PBF for ≥ 18 months, except for drinking status. @*Conclusions@#In Korea, the long-term BF rate of ≥ 12 months has declined in the past 10 years, and BF becomes rare after 18 months. Higher maternal interest in nutrition information appears to be driving access to PBF over 12 months than EBF for 6 months or PBF over 18 months. To promote PBF over 12 months in Korea, it may be helpful to strengthen nutrition education that specifically emphasizes the benefits of PBF along with EBF, especially during infant health examinations.
摘要
Background@#A previous national study found that Korean children who were breastfed for at least one year had lesser weight gain, lower protein, calcium, and iron intake relative to calories, and different dietary patterns in the second year of life, compared with children weaned before 12 months of age or those who were never breastfed. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether growth status, dietary and nutrient intake patterns differed by prolonged breastfeeding (PBF) experience even in the third year of life, when weaning is considered complete. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study was based on the data of children aged 24 to 35 months from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2020). Data on anthropometry, dietary behavior, food and nutrient intake, maternal education, and household income were extracted to analyze the association between PBF and growth, dietary and nutrient intake patterns. @*Results@#In the final analysis, 31.6% of the 931 children with a birth weight of ≥ 2.5 kg continued to breastfeed for at least 12 months of age, and their mean breastfeeding (BF) duration was 15.9 months. Children with PBF had significantly less postnatal weight gain than those without (P = 0.006). Regarding food group intake, PBF was significantly associated with lower legume and soy product intake (β [95% confidence interval], −10.688 [−19.314, −2.062], P = 0.015) and higher fruit intake (32.978 [3.349, 62.608], P = 0.029), after adjusting for sex, age in month, total caloric intake, maternal education and household income. Regarding nutrient intake, after adjusting for these variables, PBF had significantly associated with higher dietary fiber (β [95% CI], 1.607 [0.218, 2.996], P = 0.023), iron (0.848 [0.317, 1.380], P = 0.002) and niacin (0.728 [0.222, 1.235], P = 0.005) intake and was significantly associated with lower saturated fatty acid intake (−1.217 [−2.364, −0.071], P = 0.037) and percentage of energy from fat (−1.351 [−2.666, −0.035], P = 0.044). @*Conclusion@#Even in the third year of life, children who have been breastfed for over one year continue to have relatively slow growth. However, they do appear to have better intake of some beneficial nutrients, which may be attributed to healthier dietary intake patterns in children with PBF. The results of this study can be used to support the recommendation of long-term BF for Korean infants and toddlers.
摘要
Recent studies have shown that coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection increased risk of stroke. Significant differences have been identified between the general population and COVID-19 stroke patients. There are unusual patterns of stroke occurred in COVID-19 patient are reported. Pathophysiologic theories about the relationship of COVID-19 infection and stroke are being published. Herein we report a rare case of stroke in a young COVID-19 patient, considered to be the result of vasculitis, and vessel changes that might have been caused by vasospasm based on serial brain imaging follow-up data. And we interpret this case based on pathophysiological characteristics of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
摘要
Background/Aims@#Some management strategies for acute colonic diverticulitis remain controversial in Korean real-world practice because their clinical features differ from those in the West. This study aimed to investigate the opinions of Korean physicians regarding the diagnosis and treatment of acute diverticulitis. @*Methods@#A web-based survey was conducted among gastroenterologists specializing on treating lower gastrointestinal disorders. The questionnaires concerned overall management strategies for colonic diverticulitis, including diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. @*Results@#In total, 209 gastroenterologists responded to the survey. Less than one-fourth of the respondents (23.6%) answered that left-sided colonic diverticulitis is more likely to be complicated than right-sided colonic diverticulitis. Most respondents agreed that immunocompromised patients with diverticulitis have worse clinical outcomes than immunocompetent patients (71.3%). Computed tomography was the most preferred tool for diagnosing diverticulitis (93.9%). Approximately 89% of the respondents answered that they believed antibiotic treatment is necessary to treat acute uncomplicated diverticulitis. Most respondents (92.6%) agreed that emergency surgery is not required for diverticulitis with an abscess or microperforation without panperitonitis. Further, 94.7% of the respondents agreed that colon cancer screening is necessary in patients aged ≥ 50 years with diverticulitis after they have recovered from acute illness. Many respondents (71.4%) agreed that surgery for recurrent diverticulitis should be individualized. @*Conclusions@#Opinions regarding management strategies for colonic diverticulitis among Korean gastroenterologists were well agreed upon in some areas but did not agree well in other areas. Evidence-based guidelines that meet the practical needs of the Korean population should be developed.
摘要
Background@#Exchange nailing is a standard treatment for femoral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nailing. However, substantial uncertainty and controversy remain regarding the mode of interlocking fixation. This study aimed to compare the success rate and time to union of exchange nailing based on interlocking modes. @*Methods@#We retrospectively analyzed all consecutive patients who underwent exchange nailing for aseptic femoral shaft nonunion between February 2000 and February 2021. Patients who underwent exchange nailing using the dynamically locked mode and statically locked mode constituted the dynamic group and static group, respectively. We compared the success rates of the index surgery and the time to union between the groups and measured the extent of interlocking screw migration on the dynamic oblong hole in the dynamic group. @*Results@#The dynamic group and static group comprised 17 patients and 18 patients, respectively. All patients in the dynamic group achieved bone union, whereas 5 patients in the static group did not and underwent additional intervention. The success rate of the index surgery was significantly higher in the dynamic group than in the static group (100% vs. 72.2%, p = 0.045). Four of the 5 failed unions in the static group achieved bone union after dynamization. The median time to union was significantly shorter in the dynamic group than in the static group (6.0 months [range, 4.0–6.0] vs. 12.0 months [range, 3.7–21.7], p= 0.035). In the dynamic group, 3 of 17 patients exhibited interlocking screw migration ranging from 1.1 to 4.1 mm. @*Conclusions@#Exchange nailing with dynamic mode yields a higher success rate and shorter time to union in aseptic femoral shaft nonunion than that with static mode, without the risk of excessive shortening.
摘要
Background@#/Aim: Abdominal ultrasonography (USG) is recommended as a surveillance test for high-risk groups for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to analyze the current status of the national cancer surveillance program for HCC in South Korea and investigate the effects of patient-, physician-, and machine-related factors on HCC detection sensitivity. @*Methods@#This multicenter retrospective cohort study collected surveillance USG data from the high-risk group for HCC (liver cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B or C >40 years of age) at eight South Korean tertiary hospitals in 2017. @*Results@#In 2017, 45 experienced hepatologists or radiologists performed 8,512 USG examinations. The physicians had a mean 15.0±8.3 years of experience; more hepatologists (61.4%) than radiologists (38.6%) participated. Each USG scan took a mean 12.2±3.4 minutes. The HCC detection rate by surveillance USG was 0.3% (n=23). Over 27 months of follow-up, an additional 135 patients (0.7%) developed new HCC. The patients were classified into three groups based on timing of HCC diagnosis since the 1st surveillance USG, and no significant intergroup difference in HCC characteristics was noted. HCC detection was significantly associated with patient-related factors, such as old age and advanced fibrosis, but not with physician- or machine-related factors. @*Conclusions@#This is the first study of the current status of USG as a surveillance method for HCC at tertiary hospitals in South Korea. It is necessary to develop quality indicators and quality assessment procedures for USG to improve the detection rate of HCC.
摘要
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the novel coronavirus, is threatening global health worldwide with unprecedented contagiousness and severity. The best strategy to overcome COVID-19 is a vaccine. Various vaccines are currently being developed, and mass vaccination is in progress. Despite the very encouraging clinical trial results of these vaccines, there is insufficient information on the safety and efficacy of vaccines for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients facing various issues. After reviewing current evidence and international guidelines, the Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Diseases developed an expert consensus statement on COVID-19 vaccination issues for Korean IBD patients. This expert consensus statement emphasizes that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination be strongly recommended for IBD patients, and it is safe for IBD patients receiving immunomodulatory therapy.