Recently, nephron-sparing, minimally invasive surgery of small renal masses has become popular. The most typical surgery is laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN). However, due to technical difficulties, the indications for LPN had been limited to small, exophytic, and peripheral tumors. This paper introduces current status of oncological outcomes and technical considerations.
In medicine and public health areas, it is essential for researchers and clinicians to investigate causal relationships dealing with the terms of cause, causation and causality. In treating a patient, the treatment will be given based on the assumption that that treatment will cause an improvement or cure of the patient. For diagnosis, we need a causation concept to associate diseases with etiologic factors such as genetic, environmental, occupational and other components. The prevention and intervention of a disease involve the selecting process of probable causal factors too.
The causal problem is one of main issues in philosophy since ancient Greek. Aristotle theorized material, formal, efficient, and formal causes. Francis Bacon and Descartes mainly used induction and deduction, respectively. Hume denied the capacity of inductive methodologies to find truth. Among philosophers of science, the debates whether we can find objective truth or not will be continued. This causation can be two subsets, ontological and epistemological (or methodological). Traditional philosophical approaches mainly focus on ontological problems, such as what is causation?; are there causal laws? In general, scientific or epidemiological approaches are dealing with the epistemological dimension, i.e, causation criteria; test for a causal hypothesis.
For clinicians and researchers in medical and public health, it would be a good chance to review and re-think the notions of cause, causation and causality. Also there will be helpful understanding of more detail informations about the methodology such as causal inference, Hill’s criteria and Rothman’s causal pie model.
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Compared with all other patterns, isolated right colon ischemia has been found to be more associated with coronary artery disease and a poor prognosis. However, there has been no research on comparing isolated left side ischemic colitis (ILIC) and non-ILIC with vascular assessment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and laboratory findings between these two different forms of ischemic colitis (IC).
We retrospectively investigated differences in clinical features, course, and mesenteric vascular (superior mesenteric artery, SMA; inferior mesenteric artery, IMA) findings between ILIC and non-ILIC patients who were hospitalized at Kosin University Gospel Hospital from 2004 to 2010.
Our study population comprised 221 patients, all of whom met our entry criteria of biopsy-proven or -compatible IC. Of the 221 patients, 46 (20.8%) had non-ILIC. Congestive heart failure and hypercholesterolemia were more frequently observed in the non-ILIC group (
ILIC has favorable outcomes compared with non-ILIC. Furthermore, non-ILIC showed a close relationship with SMA atherosclerosis and SMA stenosis, which should be investigated carefully in the clinical field.
Some helminths have been known to have a treatment effect in inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn’s disease (CD); however, live parasite therapy can cause unwanted side effects. To develop a safe therapeutic, we investigated the preventive or therapeutic potential of proteins from the third stage larva of
CD was induced in mice with DSS, and the effect of an
Peritoneal administration of preventive and therapeutic
Taken together, these results suggest that
The efficacy of controlling nausea with an ondansetron regimen and a ramosetron regimen and an aprepitant regimen was 85.29%, 78.26%, 80% in acute periods (
Appropriate to each patient’s symptoms, the choice of drugs will be needed since each of the drugs have different effects on vomiting. Even though the each antiemetic drug has good efficacy, the effect of the drug is not complete. Therefore the use of additional drugs are also needed.
Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting is most distressing adversed effects in gynecologic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. we compared effectiveness of ondansetron and ramosetron and aprepitant for optimal antiemetic treatment in gynecologic cancer patient receiving chemotherapy.
The study was performed retrospective on 189 patients who was diagnosed initially the gynecological cancer during chemotherapy at Kosin university hospital between January 2008 and December 2010. The efficacy of controlling acute/delayed nausea and vomiting were analyzed by counting numbers of nausea and vomiting reported in medical records of 189 patient receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Statistical analysis was performed using the ANOVA and Fisher’s exact chi-square test.
The efficacy of controlling nausea with an ondansetron regimen and a ramosetron regimen and an aprepitant regimen was 85.29%, 78.26%, 80% in acute periods (
Appropriate to each patient’s symptoms, the choice of drugs will be needed since each of the drugs have different effects on vomiting. Even though the each antiemetic drug has good efficacy, the effect of the drug is not complete. Therefore the use of additional drugs are also needed.
Here the author report the mid-term clinical outcomes analysis with efficacy and safety of HoLEP.
From May 2010 to September 2012, 270 consecutive patients treated with HoLEP were enrolled in this study. All patients was evaluated by digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), serum PSA preoperatively. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), peak urinary flow rate (Qmax), and postvoid residual urine (PVR) were documented preoperatively and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 months postoperatively. The perioperative data and complications were analyzed. All procedures of HoLEP was done by a single surgeon.
The mean patient age at the surgery was 67.5 years (45-82), and the mean PSA was 3.7 ng/mL (0.4-19.4). Mean operation time was 73.6 minutes (30-150). Mean prostate volume was 64.3 mL (20-150) and mean resected tisssue weight was 9.3 g (2-63). Mean catheter indwelling time was 2.7 day (1-6), and mean hospital stay was 3.2 day (1-7). The blood loss was minimal, so transfusion was not needed. The baseline data were IPSS; 23.0 (7-35), QoL score; 5.4 (4-6), Qmax (mL/s); 12.5 (1.2-16.5), PVR (mL); 59 (20-250). Postoperatively, IPSS and QoL scores and PVR decreased, and Qmax increased significantly. Intraoperative complication was minor capsular perforation (n = 5). Postoperative complications were acute urinary retention (n = 9), transient incontinence (n = 17), urinary tract infection (n=4), urethral stricture (n=4) and bladder neck contracture (n = 12).
HoLEP showed statistical improvement of clinical parameters after 1 month operation and these results sustained for 24 months regardless of prostatic size.
Eight male New Zealand white rabbits with average weight of 3kg were used. A 10 x 10 cm unipedicled fasciocutaneous island flap was elevated based on the left superficial inferior epigastric vessel. The surface temperatures on designed flap were checked with DITI for 24 hours after the operation. On 14th day after the operation, the surviving area was measured and compared with DITI image which was taken on 24 hours after the operation using digital analysis software ImageJ. Statistical analysis was evaluated by paired T-test
On DITI image 24 hours after the flap elevation, distal portion of the flap showed remarkable color change. The average percentage and the standard deviation of the survival area of the flap which is predicted by DITI and the average percentage and the standard deviation of the survival area of the flap which was actually measured 2 weeks after flap elevation were 55.3 (16.6), 56.2 (18.0), respectively. This shows no significant difference between the two.
Monitoring viability of flap is important. The flap survival depends on the vascularity of the flap, on which the skin temperature depends. The authors applied digital infrared thermographic imaging (DITI) for monitoring the vascular supply of the flap and for the prediction of the prognosis of the flap survival.
Eight male New Zealand white rabbits with average weight of 3kg were used. A 10 x 10 cm unipedicled fasciocutaneous island flap was elevated based on the left superficial inferior epigastric vessel. The surface temperatures on designed flap were checked with DITI for 24 hours after the operation. On 14th day after the operation, the surviving area was measured and compared with DITI image which was taken on 24 hours after the operation using digital analysis software ImageJ. Statistical analysis was evaluated by paired T-test
On DITI image 24 hours after the flap elevation, distal portion of the flap showed remarkable color change. The average percentage and the standard deviation of the survival area of the flap which is predicted by DITI and the average percentage and the standard deviation of the survival area of the flap which was actually measured 2 weeks after flap elevation were 55.3 (16.6), 56.2 (18.0), respectively. This shows no significant difference between the two.
This study shows that DITI system could be used in evaluation of flap vascularity with ease, quickness and safety for patient and flap. Thus, it could be used clinically for the prediction of flap survival.
This study was investigated the recovery characteristics of propofol-remifentanil and sevoflurane-remifentanil anesthesia for total thyroidectomy
Eighty patients in ASA physical status 1 and 2 scheduled for total thyroidectomy were allocated randomly to either group P (n = 40) or group S (n = 40). Anesthesia was maintained with remifentanil effect site concentration (Ce) 1-3 ng/mL and propofol Ce 2-4 μ g/mL in the group P, and was maintained with remifentanil Ce 1-3 ng/mL and sevoflurane 1.5-2% in the group S. Blood pressure, heart rate, and bispectral (BIS) index were measured during perioperative period. The times from discontinuance of anesthetic agent to eye opening, to extubation, and to stating name were measured. Postoperative complications were evaluated.
This study was investigated the recovery characteristics of propofol-remifentanil and sevoflurane-remifentanil anesthesia for total thyroidectomy
Eighty patients in ASA physical status 1 and 2 scheduled for total thyroidectomy were allocated randomly to either group P (n = 40) or group S (n = 40). Anesthesia was maintained with remifentanil effect site concentration (Ce) 1-3 ng/mL and propofol Ce 2-4 μ g/mL in the group P, and was maintained with remifentanil Ce 1-3 ng/mL and sevoflurane 1.5-2% in the group S. Blood pressure, heart rate, and bispectral (BIS) index were measured during perioperative period. The times from discontinuance of anesthetic agent to eye opening, to extubation, and to stating name were measured. Postoperative complications were evaluated.
There were no significant differences between group P and S on the blood pressure, heart rate, and recovery time. BIS index of group P showed lower than that of group S during operation (
Propofol-remifentanil anesthesia was more advantageous than sevoflurane-remifentanil anesthesia for thyroidectomy in view of side effect incidences.
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This study was designed to evaluate the clinical, histological and immunohistochemical findings and treatment of chronic actinic dermatitis in Korean patients.
Seventeen Korean patients with chronic actinic dermatitis were enrolled for this study. The clinical and histological findings and the results of phototest were reviewed with medical records, clinical photographs and pathologic slides. We also reviewed the effectiveness of the treatments in all patients with chronic actinic dermatitis.
In all patients with chronic actinic dermatitis, pruritus was severe, and the patients present in the early stages with erythemas on the face, neck and the back of the hands. As the eruption progresses, it became lichenified and scaly plaques and papules developed. The face, upper extremity and neck were most commonly affected. The most common abnormal results of the phototests were decreased MED-UVB alone. In 8 patients with actinic reticuloid, histopathologic findings showed irregular acanthosis, parakeratosis, spongiosis, atypical hyperchromatic cells with cerebriform nuclei, epidermotropism, Pautrier-like microabscess, deep perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates, vertically-streaked collagen in the papillary dermis, stellate and multinucleated fibroblasts. Treatment includes topical tacrolimus and corticosteroid, oral corticosteroid, azathioprine and cyclosporine.
Our study showed classic clinical and histological findings. The most common abnormal results of the phototests were decreased MED-UVB alone. Topical steroid, tacrolimus and systemic cyclosporine, azathioprine are effective in treating chronic actinic dermatitis.
We report the case of a 53-year-old man who presented with obstructive pneumonitis and broncholithiasis. We attempted to remove the broncholith with forceps through a flexible endoscope, but the potential for bleeding due to partial synechia did not allow this. We succeeded in removing it with cryotherapy. The histopathological diagnosis was thoracic actinomycosis associated with broncholithiasis. Endobronchial actinomycosis with a broncholith is very rare. We successfully treated a patient with endobronchial actinomycosis with a broncholith by administering short-term antibiotics after broncholithectomy via cryotherapy through a flexible bronchoscope.
Pheochromocytoma is a catecholamine-producing tumor characterized by hypertension, headache, tachycardia, excessive diaphoresis, and angina pectoris. The thunderclap headache is so named because the pain strikes suddenly and severely. Although the symptoms of bladder pheochromocytoma are rather evident, the diagnosis of this rare neuroendocrine tumor can be missed. This study reports the case of a woman diagnosed with bladder pheochromocytoma who experienced thunderclap headache triggered by urination and angina pectoris as an initial manifestation. This case study suggests that thunderclap headache and angina pectoris occurring concurrently with sudden blood pressure elevation during or immediately after urination are important diagnostic clues of bladder pheochromocytoma.
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The autoimmune polyglandular syndromes (APS) are groups of syndromes comprising a combination of endocrine and nonendocrine autoimmune diseases. Among of those four types of APS, the main characteristics of the 3 APS are autoimmune thyroid diseases associated to other autoimmune diseases, excluding Addison’s disease. Type 3 APS are also subdivided into 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D. Recently, we experience a case of APS manifesting 3A, 3C, and 3D subtype. A 28-year-old woman developed type I diabetes. According to her medical history, she had Graves’ disease, vitiligo, auimmune hemolytic anemia and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The antoantibodies associated with Graves’ disease, SLE, and type I diabetes showed positive findings. We report this case with literatures review.
A few cases of severe pulmonary hypertension with right heart failure associated with Graves’ disease were reported in the literature. However, cases of pulmonary hypertension with right heart failure recurred by Graves’ disease is very rare. We describe the case of a 60-year old woman who had been treated pulmonary hypertension caused by right pulmonary artery thromboembolism seven years ago. Recently, her pulmonary hypertension with right heart failure was recurred by Graves’ disease. The patient’s symptoms of pulmonary hypertension was resolved after treatment of Graves’ disease.
Symptoms of tuberous scelrosis (TS) are mainly related with brain and kidneys. Seizure, mental retardation, other behavioral problems are dominant. A spectrum of renal tumors from benign angiomyolipoma (AML) to polycystic kidney disease, and rarely malignant renal cell carcinoma have been observed. Cystic AML is a rare phenotype of AML. No case of TS with renal cystic AML has been reported in Korea yet. And chronic kidney disease (CKD) in TS has been seldom reported. We experienced a TS case accompanied by renal cystic AML and CKD diagnosed in a 48-year-old female patient who was hospitalized for left side weakness and seizure under the diagnosis of acute cerebral infarction.
Addison’s disease is a rare disorder that causes fatigue, genral weakness, weight loss, pigmentation due to adrenal hypofunction and it’s underlying causes are various. We report a case of 42-year-old man with fatigue, generalized cutaneous pigmentation. Computed tomography showed bilateral adrenal enlargement, but no calcification. Adrenal tuberculosis was established by ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy.