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Objective Henoch–Schonlein purpura is a systemic vasculitis that mainly occurs in children. Renal impairment is a major complication of Henoch–Schonlein purpura, but there is no established predictive marker for renal involvement. Thus, in this study, we investigated the risk factors for renal involvement in children with Henoch–Schonlein purpura. Method The medical records of children newly diagnosed as having Henoch–Schonlein purpura between 2005 and 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Selected laboratory data were recorded before treatment initiation. The date and the age at diagnosis; sex; and the presence of arthralgia, gastrointestinal and renal involvement were obtained retrospectively. Results This study included a total of 186 patients with Henoch–Schonlein purpura. Among them, 36.0% had renal involvement; 28.4% had only microscopic hematuria, 53.7% had non-nephrotic range proteinuria, and 17.9% had nephrotic-range proteinuria during follow-up. The mean age was higher (p = 0.016) and female sex was predominant (p = 0.001) in patients with renal involvement than in those without renal involvement. Blood neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (p = 0.002) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (p = 0.002) were significantly higher than that of the patients without renal involvement. No statistically significant differences were observed in the hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, presence of arthralgia, and gastrointestinal involvement between patients with and without renal involvement. Logistic regression analysis revealed female sex (odd ratio = 3.213) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (odd ratio = 1.329) as risk factors for renal involvement. Conclusions Female sex and high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio were risk factors for renal involvement in Henoch–Schonlein purpura.

Cervical artificial discs (CADs) are a surgical option in selected patients with cervical spinal disc degeneration. Although CADs have been available for many years, concerns persist regarding long-term safety, durability, and implant-related failure. We report a case of nucleus herniation of a Mobi-C implant without trauma, which is a rare complication. Two years after implantation of a Mobi-C implant, a 47-year-old man presented with acute paraplegia without a history of trauma. On cervical magnetic resonance imaging, a T2-high signal intensity lesion was noted in the ventral aspect of the spinal cord at the T1-2 level. During emergent surgery, nucleus herniation of the Mobi-C was detected. After surgery, the patient could walk without assistance. Posterior herniation of the Mobi-C nucleus without trauma is a rare complication that should be considered in surgical planning and follow-up.

Objective Previous literatures have demonstrated widely variable clinical results after transsacral epiduroscopic laser decompression (SELD) and the factors predicting outcomes are not yet established. Therefore, we analyzed the clinical outcome and associated predictive factors of SELD in patients with lumbar disc herniation. Methods Between 2015 and 2018, 82 patients who underwent single-level SELD and followed up at least 6 months were enrolled. The overall success rate (excellent or good results at final follow-up) was 58.5% according to Odom’s criteria. Based on this result, patients were divided to 2 groups: a favorable group (n = 48) and an unfavorable group (n = 34). A retrospective review of the baseline characteristics and clinical outcome were conducted to reveal the predictive factors. Results As expected, improvement of pain and patient satisfaction, was more favorable in the favorable group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the rate of additional procedure was lower in the favorable group (4.2%, 2 of 48 patients) than in the unfavorable group (35.3%, 12 of 34 patients) (p = 0.011). Among the various baseline characteristics, the only significant predictive factor for favorable outcome was the presence of a high-intensity zone (HIZ) on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (50.0% [24 of 48 patients] in the favorable group vs. 11.8% [4 of 34 patients] in the unfavorable group; odds ratio, 15.67; p = 0.024). Conclusion Although SELD for lumbar disc herniation resulted in a less favorable clinical outcome than that reported in previous studies, in patients with a HIZ, SELD can be an effective minimally invasive surgery to relieve low back pain and/or leg pain.

Objective To compare short-term treatment outcomes at hospital discharge and hospital length of stay (LOS) in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) before and after introduction of resident physician work time limit (WTL). Methods We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients treated for sICH at our institution between 2016 and 2019. Then we dichotomized these patients into two groups, pre-WTL and post-WTL. We analyzed demographic elements and clinical features, and hospital length of stay (LOS). We evaluated short-term outcome using modified Rankin scale score at hospital discharge and then divided it into "good" and "poor" outcome groups. We subsequently, compared short-term treatment outcome and hospital LOS between the pre-WTL and post-WTL groups. Results Out of 779 patients, 420 patients (53.9%) were included in the pre-WTL group, and 359 (46.1%) in post-WTL. The mortality rate in sICH patients was higher in the post-WTL group (pre-WTL; 13.6% vs. post-WTL; 17.3%), but there was no statistically significant difference in short-term outcome including mortality (p=0.332) between the groups. The LOS also, was not significantly different between the two groups (pre-WTL; 19.0 days vs. post-WTL; 20.2 days) (p=0.341). The initial Glasgow Coma Scale score, personal stroke history, and mean age were the only independent outcome predicting factors for patients with sICH. Conclusions Some neurosurgeons may expect poorer outcome for sICH after implementation of the WTL of the K-MHW for resident physician however, enforcement of the WTL did not significantly influence the short-term outcome and hospital LOS for sICH in our hospital. Further well-designed multi-institutional prospective studies on the effects of WTL in sICH patient outcome, are anticipated.

Objective We aimed to identify the relation between perioperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drain through lumbar drainage (LD) and development of postoperative (POP) remote intracerebral hemorrhage (rICH) in craniotomy to treat ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Methods We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients who underwent craniotomy for ruptured cerebral aneurysms at the authors’ institution between 1998 and 2004. We subsequently compared the incidence and characteristics of POP rICH between the patients who had a perioperative LD and those who did not. All statistical analyses were conducted using the software package SPSS 19.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). A p value of

Background: It is challenging to diagnose asthma in preschool children. The asthma predictive index (API) has been used to predict asthma and decide whether to initiate treatment in preschool children.Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the association between questionnaire-based current asthma with API, pulmonary function, airway hyperreactivity (AHR), fractional expiratory nitric oxide (FeNO), and atopic sensitization in preschool children.Methods: We performed a population-based cross-sectional study in 916 preschool children aged 4–6 years. We defined current asthma as the presence of both physician-diagnosed asthma and at least one wheezing episode within the previous 12 months using a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Clinical and laboratory parameters were compared between groups according to the presence of current asthma.Results: The prevalence of current asthma was 3.9% in the study population. Children with current asthma showed a higher rate of positive bronchodilator response and loose and stringent API scores than children without current asthma. The stringent API was associated with current asthma with 72.2% sensitivity and 82.0% specificity. The diagnostic accuracy of the stringent API for current asthma was 0.771. However, no intergroup differences in spirometry results, methacholine provocation test results, FeNO level, or atopic sensitization rate were observed.Conclusion: The questionnaire-based diagnosis of current asthma is associated with API, but not with spirometry, AHR, FeNO, or atopic sensitization in preschool children.

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the usefulness of a polyester urethane dural substitute (Neuro-Patch®, B. Braun, Boulogne, France) as an anti-adhesion agent in subsequent cranioplasty by analyzing the use of Neuro-Patch® during decompressive craniectomy in traumatic brain injury patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with traumatic brain injury who underwent decompressive craniectomy followed by cranioplasty from January 2015 to December 2018. Patients were analyzed according to whether they received treatment with Neuro-Patch® or not (Neuro-Patch® group, n=71; control group, n=55). Patients’ baseline characteristics were analyzed to identify factors that could affect cranioplasty results, including age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, use of antiplatelet agents or anticoagulant medication, the interval between craniectomy and cranioplasty, and the type of bone used in cranioplasty. The cranioplasty results were analyzed according to the following factors: operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospitalization period, surgical site infection, and revision surgery due to extra-axial hematoma. Results: No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding patients’ baseline characteristics. For the cranioplasty procedures, the operation time (155 vs. 190 minutes, p=0.003), intraoperative blood loss (350 vs. 450 mL, p=0.012), and number of surgical site infections (4 vs. 11 cases, p=0.024) were significantly lower in the Neuro-Patch® group than in the control group. Conclusions: The use of Neuro-Patch® was associated with a shorter operation time, less blood loss, and a lower number of surgical site infections in subsequent cranioplasties. These results may provide a rationale for prospective studies investigating the efficacy of Neuro-Patch®.

The C1-C2 angle has been shown to correlate with subaxial alignment under various conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the C1-C2 fixation angle and subaxial sagittal alignment as well as the impact of the sagittal vertical axis (SVA) on functional outcomes in traumatic atlantoaxial (A-A) instabilities. The data of 36 patients who underwent posterior C1-C2 fixation for traumatic A-A instability between December 2005 and September 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Radiographic parameters, including the C1-C2 angle, occipitocervical angle, C2-C7 angle, and C2-C7 SVA, were measured before surgery and at 1-year follow-up. Clinical outcomes were measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI). The preoperative and postoperative relationships between parameters were analyzed. In preoperative and postoperative radiographs, the C1-C2 angle correlated with the C2-C7 angle (r = −0.347, p = 0.038, and r = −0.339, p = 0.043, respectively) and the C2-C7 SVA (r = 0.648, p The postoperative C2-C7 SVA was affected by the preoperative C2-C7 SVA and the postoperative C1-C2 angle and showed significant positive correlation with postoperative NDI. The C1-C2 fixation angle and the preoperative C2-C7 SVA should be carefully considered to avoid postoperative sagittal imbalance.

Background:The objective of this study was to illustrate a novel technique for lifting of the aging upper lip with nasal tip plasty in Asians. With this procedure, a shortening of the philtrum, an increase of the vermilion, and a natural and nicer mouth can be obtained, with increase of the tip of t

Patients with brain metastases (BM) can benefit from radiotherapy (RT), although the long-term benefits of RT remain unclear. We searched a Korean national health insurance claims database and identified 135,740 patients with newly diagnosed BM during 2002–2017. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to evaluate survival according to RT modality, which included whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and/or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The 84,986 eligible patients were followed for a median interval of 6.6 months, and 37,046 patients underwent RT (43.6%). After the PSM, patients who underwent RT had significantly better overall survival after 1 year (42.4% vs. 35.3%, P

To compare lateral (direct [DLIF] or oblique [OLIF]) and posterior (posterior [PLIF] or transforaminal [TLIF]) lumbar interbody fusion results in patients with the same indication of discogenic low back pain.We enrolled 46 patients who underwent single-level DLIF/OLIF or PLIF/TLIF with at least 1 year of follow-up. Patients were divided into two groups: a lateral group (n=24) who underwent DLIF/OLIF and a posterior group (n=22) who underwent PLIF/TLIF. Clinical, surgical, and radiological outcomes were retrospectively evaluated.Baseline factors, including demographic data, preoperative symptoms, and preoperative radiological findings, were not significantly different between the two groups. In addition, the clinical and radiological outcomes at 1-year post-surgery did not differ between the two groups. However, the DLIF/OLIF procedure conferred significant advantages as follows: favorable postoperative low back pain and patient satisfaction at 1-week and 1-month post-surgery; shorter operation time (mean 173.33 ± 11.54 versus 208.64 ± 17.48 min, p0.001); less blood loss during surgery (mean 127.50 ± 41.36 versus 372.73 ± 123.21 mL, p0.001); and greater restoration of calibrated disc height at 1-year post-surgery (mean 5.80 ± 1.44 versus 0.50 ± 1.22, p=0.008). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups. However, complications tended to be more frequent in the lateral group; 7 (29.2%) patients in the lateral group and 3 patients (13.6%) in the posterior group.Our findings suggest that the lateral group achieved better perioperative outcomes and disc height restoration than the posterior group, although there was no significant difference in the 1-year clinical outcomes.

AIM To describe and demonstrate the close analogy between dual volume reconstruction images derived using three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography (3D-DSA) and surgical microscopic images. MATERIAL AND METHODS From 2013 to 2018, 12 patients with spinal vascular malformation (SVM) underwent preoperative 3D-DSA with dual volume reconstruction followed by surgery for the SVM without prior endovascular treatment. Two spinal neurosurgeons involved in each operation were surveyed regarding the similarity between the dual volume images of 3D-DSA and the surgical microscopic images with respect to the following four aspects: (1) relationship between bony structures and the entry artery going to the feeder; (2) feeding artery; (3) shunting point or nidus location; and (4) draining vein. RESULTS The patients were diagnosed with spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (n=8) and spinal arteriovenous malformations (n=4). Two, six, and four lesions showed cervical, thoracic, and lumbar area distribution, respectively. All operations were successful and without complications. The correspondence between dual volume images and intraoperative microscopic images, with respect to bony structure and entry artery, showed perfect reliability (k=1.000; p=0.000) and a high level of similarity in all cases. With respect to the feeding artery, shunt point/nidus location, and draining vein, there was substantial reliability between the operator and the observer (k=0.750; p=0.045). CONCLUSION Images obtained using the dual volume reconstruction technique of the 3D-DSA exhibit a reliable similarity to real microscopic images and are useful in the surgical treatment of SVMs with respect to surgical planning, targeting, and orientation.

ObjectiveMany studies on the clinical outcome of full endoscopic spine surgery versus open spine surgery have been published. However, only a few studies have compared the learning curves of percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar lumbar discectomy (PEILD) and open lumbar microdiscectomy (OLM) at the L5-S1 level. This study included patients with disc herniation at the L5-S1 level, who underwent PEILD or OLM performed by a single novice surgeon and compared the learning curves.MethodsFifty-six patients who underwent PEILD or OLM at the L5-S1 level and completed a minimum 1-year follow-up were enrolled in the study. The patients were allocated to the PEILD group (n = 27, September 2014 to August 2016) or an OLM group (n = 29, September 2012 to August 2014). The learning curves were retrospectively compared based on operation time and surgical outcomes, including complication, failure, and recurrence rates were retrospectively compared.ResultsSignificant intergroup differences were not noted with respect to the baseline characteristics, including age, sex, body mass index, preoperative symptoms, or preoperative radiological findings. The mean operation time was significantly shorter in the PEILD group than in the OLM group (63.89±17.99 min versus 78.03±19.01 min, p = 0.006). Based on the operation time according to the number of cases, the learning curve was more difficult in the PEILD group according to the cumulative analysis (case number cut-off for proficiency was 18 in the PEILD group versus 10 in the OLM group) and linear regression analysis (proportionality constant for decrease in the operation time was -0.922 in the PEILD group versus -1.738 in the OLM group) than that in the OLM group. However, the surgical outcomes, including failure, surgical efficacy based on nerve root decompression, complication, and recurrence rates did not differ between the two groups.ConclusionAlthough the learning curve of PEILD was more difficult than that of OLM, the mean operation time was shorter in the PEILD group than that in the OLM group. Moreover, based on the surgical outcomes, PEILD showed efficacy and safety similar to those of OLM.

This study examined adult health related factors of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2017. Metabolic syndrome prevalence and perceived stress with physical activity and sedentary time were analyzed. Subjects are 4,459 over 40 year adults. The data were analyzed odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval by logistic regression analysis. First, male, moderate intensity occupational physical activity (OPA) and high intensity leisure time physical activity (LTPA) (OR, 1.337) between metabolic syndrome prevalence tended to increase. Vigorous intensity OPA (OR, 0.847), transport physical activity (TPA) (OR, 0.968), and moderate intensity LTPA (OR, 0.927) between metabolic syndrome prevalence tends to decrease. Female, vigorous intensity OPA (OR, 1.238) between metabolic syndrome prevalence tended to increase. Moderate intensity OPA (OR, 0.878), TPA (OR, 0.875), vigorous intensity LTPA (OR, 0.691), and moderate intensity LTPA (OR, 0.479) between metabolic syndrome prevalence tended to decrease. Male, vigorous intensity OPA (OR, 1.584), moderate intensity OPA (OR, 1.752), and vigorous intensity LTPA (OR, 1.316) between perceived stress tended to increase. TPA (OR, 0.753) and moderate intensity LTPA (OR, 0.983) between perceived stress tended to decrease. Female, moderate intensity OPA (OR, 2.331) between perceived stress tended to increase. Vigorous intensity OPA (OR, 0.732), TPA (OR, 0.836), vigorous intensity LTPA (OR, 0.990), and moderate intensity LTPA (OR, 0.837) between perceived stress tended to decrease.

Microscopic anterior cervical foraminotomy (MACF) is a surgical technique for unilateral cervical radiculopathy that preserves segmental motion and avoids adjacent segmental degeneration, but little is known of its long-term outcomes.A retrospective minimum 10-year follow-up study was conducted on patients treated by 1 surgeon. Clinical outcomes were assessed using a visual analog scale of neck and arm pain, Neck Disability Index, and Odom criteria. Surgical outcomes were assessed using additional procedure rates. Radiologic outcomes were estimated by measuring disc heights, segmental angles, and range of motion at the surgical level and adjacent segments, and so on.Of the 94 patients who underwent MACF between January 2000 and December 2004 by 1 surgeon, 69 were enrolled in this study. Median follow-up period was 11.9 years (range, 10.0-14.5 years). Visual analog scales for neck or arm pain and Neck Disability Index improved significantly during follow-up period (P0.001). Also, according to the Odom criteria, an excellent or good outcome was achieved in 62 patients (89.9%) at final follow-up. An additional procedure was performed in 10 patients (14.5%) for symptom recurrence during the follow-up period. The only risk factor found to be related to the need for an additional procedure was a small preoperative range of motion at the surgical level (P = 0.018). Although mean disc height at the surgical level decreased significantly (from 6.23 ± 1.10 to 5.17 ± 1.12 mm; P = 0.004), adjacent discs were not significantly affected.Although some radiologic results have shortcomings, the results of this study suggest that MACF has favorable long-term outcomes.

The diagnosis of discogenic low back pain (LBP) from disc degeneration of the lumbar spine is often evaluated with discography. Noninvasive, simple screening methods other than invasive discography are useful, as evidence supporting clinical findings and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have come to the forefront.To investigate disc height (DH) discrepancy between supine and standing positions on simple radiography to clarify its clinical screening value in individuals with discogenic LBP.Retrospective matched cohort design.Ninety-two patients with early to middle stage disc degeneration (Pfirrmann grade II, III, or IV).Each subject underwent simple radiographs and MRI. Baseline characteristics, including demographic data and MRI findings, and radiological findings, including DH discrepancy, segmental angle, and sagittal balance, were analyzed. DH discrepancy ratio was calculated as (1 - [calibrated DH on standing radiography/calibrated DH on supine radiography]) × 100%.We matched LBP group of 46 patients with intractable discogenic pain (≥7 of visual analog scale scores) confirmed by discography with control group of 46 patients with similar stage disc degeneration with mild LBP (≤4 of visual analog scale scores). Binary regression analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and cut-off value for diagnosis were used to evaluate and clarify diagnostic value of various factors.There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of baseline characteristics, including age, sex, body mass index, pathological level, and magnetic resonance findings such as disc degeneration, high intensity zone, and para-spinal muscle volume. Among the various radiological findings, the calibrated mean DH in the standing position (20.87±5.65 [LBP group] vs. 26.95±3.02 [control group], p.001) and the DH discrepancy ratio (14.55±6.13% [LBP group] vs. 1.47±0.75% [control group], p=.007) were significantly different between the two groups. The cut-off value for DH discrepancy ratio to screen discogenic LBP was ≥6.04%. Additionally, as a compensation for pain, sagittal vertical axis (3.43±2.03 cm [LBP group] vs. -0.54±3.05 cm [control group], p=.002) and pelvic incidence (54.74±6.76° [LBP group] vs. 43.98±8.67° [control group]; p=.006) were different between the two groups.The results suggest that DH discrepancy between the supine and standing positions could be a screening metric for discogenic LBP in early to middle stage disc degeneration of the lumbar spine.

Microvascular free flap transfer has become a prevailing surgery with a failure rate of5%. However, pedicle thrombosis occurs more frequently than indicated by the failure rate. This difference is due to the successful salvage of failing flaps. During exploration, thrombi are often encountered at anastomotic sites, whereas these causes could not explain vascular compromise in other patients. Thus, we hypothesized that thrombogenic processes might occur at remote sites, specifically within microvessels of the transferred flap. This study retrospectively evaluated 323 patients who underwent microvascular free flap transfer between March 2012 and October 2016 at Korea University Guro Hospital. All patients requiring emergency exploration within 7 days after surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Of patients, 15 required explorative surgery for suspected circulatory compromise. Eight were diagnosed with thrombosis at the perianastomotic site and salvaged in accordance with our protocol. There was no detectable thrombosis at the anastomotic site in seven patients, including one patient in whom thrombosis resolved with topical papaverine application and heparinization. The remaining six patients were diagnosed with intra-flap microthrombosis without discernable thrombosis at the anastomotic site. All patients were treated following our urokinase administration protocol and salvaged without complications. Possible external causes should first be evaluated when salvaging free flaps; in the absence of such evidence, urokinase administration may be utilized as a last resort. This study is the first report describing the effectiveness of pharmacological thrombolysis in resolving intra-flap microthrombosis. Furthermore, a safe and efficient urokinase administration protocol is suggested for perianastomotic thrombosis and intra-flap microthrombosis.

Objective To evaluate the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features that have a statistically significant association with the need for a tracheostomy in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) during the acute stage of injury. Methods This study retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 130 patients with cervical SCI. We analyzed the factors believed to increase the risk of requiring a tracheostomy, including the severity of SCI, the level of injury as determined by radiological assessment, three quantitative MR imaging parameters, and eleven qualitative MR imaging parameters. Results Significant differences between the non-tracheostomy and tracheostomy groups were determined by the following five factors on multivariate analysis : complete SCI (p=0.007), the radiological level of C5 and above (p=0.038), maximum canal compromise (MCC) (p=0.010), lesion length (p=0.022), and osteophyte formation (p=0.015). For the MCC, the cut-off value was 46%, and the risk of requiring a tracheostomy was three times higher at an interval between 50-60% and ten times higher between 60-70%. For lesion length, the cut-off value was 20 mm, and the risk of requiring a tracheostomy was two times higher at an interval between 20-30 mm and fourteen times higher between 40-50 mm. Conclusion The American Spinal Injury Association grade A, a radiological injury level of C5 and above, an MCC ≥50%, a lesion length ≥20 mm, and osteophyte formation at the level of injury were considered to be predictive values for requiring tracheostomy intervention in patients with cervical SCI.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (FSRS) performed using the Novalis Tx® system (BrainLAB AG, Feldkirchen, Germany; Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA, USA) for brain metastases. Methods Between March 2013 and July 2016, 23 brain metastases patients were admitted at a single institute. Twenty-nine lesions too large for single session stereotactic radiosurgery or located in the vicinity of eloquent structures were treated by FSRS. Based on the results obtained, we reviewed the efficacy and toxicity of FSRS for the treatment of brain metastases. Results The most common lesion origin was lung (55%) followed by breast (21%). Median overall survival was 10.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.9-15.0), and median progression-free survival was 10.0 months (95% CI, 2.1-13.9). Overall survival rates at 1 and 2 years were 58.6% and 36.0%, respectively. Local recurrence and neurological complications affecting morbidity each occurred in two cases. Conclusion FSRS using the Novalis-Tx® system would appear to be an effective, safe noninvasive treatment modality for large and eloquently situated brain metastases. Further investigation is required on a larger number of patients.

Background: Solar irradiation affects sensitization to aeroallergens and the prevalence of allergic diseases. Little is known, however, about how the time and amount of solar irradiation during pregnancy affects such risks in children. We aimed to find out how solar irradiation during pregnancy affects sensitization to aero-allergens and the prevalence of allergic diseases in children. Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study involved 7301 aged 6 years and aged 12 years children. Maternal exposure to solar irradiation during pregnancy was evaluated using data from weather stations closest to each child's birthplace. Monthly average solar irradiation during the second and third trimesters was calculated with rank by quartiles. Risks of allergic sensitization and allergic disease were estimated. Results: Relative to the first (lowest) quartile, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for allergic sensitization in the fourth (highest) quartile was lowest within solar irradiation during pregnancy months 5–6 (aOR = 0.823, 95% CI 0.720–0.942, p

This study aims to evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of real-time personal monitoring of exposure to PM concentrations using low-cost sensors, in comparison to conventional data collection method based on fixed stations. PM2.5 data were measured every 5 min using a low-cost sensor attached to a bag carried by 47 asthmatic children living in the Seoul Metropolitan area between November 2019 and March 2020, along with the real-time GPS location, temperature, and humidity. The mobile sensor data were then matched with station-based hourly PM2.5 data using the time and location. Despite some uncertainty and inaccuracy of the sensor data, similar temporal patterns were found between the two sources of PM2.5 data on an aggregate level. However, average PM2.5 concentrations via personal monitoring tended to be lower than those from the fixed stations, particularly when the subjects were indoors, during nighttime, and located farther from the fixed station. On an individual level, a substantial discrepancy is observed between the two PM2.5 data sources while staying indoors. This study provides guidance to policymakers and researchers on improving the feasibility of personal monitoring via low-cost mobile sensors as an alternative or supplement to the conventional station-based monitoring.

Study DesignA noninterventional, multicenter, cross-sectional study.PurposeWe investigated the prevalence of neuropathic pain (NP) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of the quality of life (QoL) and functional disability in Korean adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP).Overview of LiteratureAmong patients with CLBP, 20%–55% had NP.MethodsPatients older than 20 years with CLBP lasting for longer than three months, with a visual analog scale (VAS) pain score higher than four, and with pain medications being used for at least four weeks before enrollment were recruited from 27 general hospitals between December 2014 and May 2015. Medical chart reviews were performed to collect demographic/clinical features and diagnosis of NP (douleur neuropathique 4, DN4). The QoL (EuroQoL 5-dimension, EQ-5D; EQ-VAS) and functional disability (Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale, QBPDS) were determined through patient surveys. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to compare PROs between the NP (DN4≥4) and non-NP (DN4ResultsA total of 1,200 patients (females: 65.7%; mean age: 63.4±13.0 years) were enrolled. The mean scores of EQ-5D, EQ-VAS, and QBPDS were 0.5±0.3, 55.7±19.4, and 40.4±21.1, respectively. Among all patients, 492 (41.0%; 95% confidence interval, 38.2%–43.8%) suffered from NP. The prevalence of NP was higher in male patients (46.8%; pppppppConclusionsNP was highly prevalent in Korean patients with CLBP. Patients with CLBP having NP had a lower QoL and more severe dysfunction than those without NP. To enhance the QoL and functional status of patients with CLBP, this study highlights the importance of appropriately diagnosing and treating NP.

Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar foraminotomy (ELF) is a novel minimally invasive technique used to treat lumbar foraminal stenosis. However, the validity of foraminal decompression based on quantitative assessment using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not yet been established. The objective of this study was to investigate the radiographic efficiency of ELF using MRI. Radiographic changes of neuroforamen were measured based on pre- and postoperative MRI findings. Images were blindly analyzed by two observers for foraminal stenosis grade and foraminal dimensions. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and k statistic were calculated to determine interobserver agreement. Thirty-five patients with 40 neuroforamen were evaluated. The mean visual analog scale (VAS) score improved from 8.4 to 2.1, and the mean Oswestry disability index (ODI) improved from 65.9 to 19.2. Overall, 91.4% of the patients achieved good or excellent outcomes. The mean grade of foraminal stenosis significantly improved from 2.63 to 0.68. There were significant increases in the mean foraminal area (FA) from 50.05 to 92.03 mm2, in mean foraminal height (FH) from 11.36 to 13.47 mm, in mean superior foraminal width (SFW) from 6.43 to 9.27 mm, and in mean middle foraminal width (MFW) from 1.47 to 78 mm (P < 0.001). Interobserver agreements for preoperative and postoperative measurements were good to excellent with the exception of SFW. In conclusion, foraminal dimensions and grades of foraminal stenosis significantly improved after ELF. These findings may enhance the clinical relevance of endoscopic lumbar foraminal decompression.

A new polyurethane foam dressing impregnated with 3% povidone-iodine (Betafoam; Genewell, Seoul, Korea) was recently developed based on the hypothesis that its physical properties, including improved moisture-retention capacity and antimicrobial activity, are at least as good as those achieved with the current foam dressings that contain silver, but also associated with reduced cost and cytotoxicity to host cells. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the efficacy of Betafoam by comparing its physical properties, antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxicity with those of 3 silver foam dressings (Allevyn-Ag [SmithNephew, Hull, United Kingdom]; Mepilex-Ag [Mölnlycke Health Care, Gothenburg, Sweden]; and PolyMem-Ag [Ferris MFG Corp, Burr Ridge, Illinois]) used worldwide.This study measured each dressing's pore size, fluid absorption time, fluid absorption capacity, fluid retention capacity, antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and cytotoxicity to mouse fibroblasts.Betafoam had the smallest pore size, the fastest fluid absorption time, greatest fluid absorption, and best retention capacities among the tested foam dressings. Antimicrobial activity was not significantly different among the dressings. However, Betafoam also demonstrated the lowest cytotoxicity to the fibroblasts.Betafoam may result not only in desirable rapid regulation of exudation but also antimicrobial activity with minimal cytotoxicity to host cells that are key requirements for wound healing.

Background: Self-inflicted wrist lacerations have the potential to lead to crippling sequelae and repeated suicidal attempt. To obtain good results, we have treated self-inflicted wrist lacerations using a multidisciplinary team - emergency, hand surgery, psychiatry, and rehabilitation. This study aims to review features of this type of injuries and suggest multidisciplinary team approach as an optimal treatment. Methods: Our multidisciplinary approach can be summarized as follows: initial evaluation, psychological interview, surgery, and rehabilitation. The medical records including wound features, injured structures and psychological data were reviewed retrospectively. Assessment of functional outcomes, and comparative analysis of various psychological parameters were conducted. Results: Most patients resulted in excellent or good functional outcomes. Five patients reattempted wrist cutting with suicidal intent during follow-up. Only 21.3% patients had a suicidal intent and it was not associated with injury severity and functional recovery. Alcohol ingestion and presence of associated injuries was significant different between severity groups. Presence of suicidal intent was irrelevant to injury severity and functional recovery, but relevant to alcohol ingestion, presence of associated injuries and presence of psychiatric diagnosis. Conclusions: In order to minimize catastrophic disability and repeated suicide attempts, a balanced multidisciplinary approach is one of the best methods to obtain excellent functional outcomes and prevent repeated injuries in patients with self-inflicted wrist lacerations.

BackgroundDecompressive craniectomy is an important surgical treatment for patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Several reports have been published on the efficacy of non-watertight sutures in duraplasty performed in decompressive craniectomy. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of dura closure without sutures (non-suture duraplasty) in decompressive craniectomy for TBI.MethodsOne hundred and six patients were enrolled at a single trauma center between January 2017 and December 2018. We retrospectively collected the data and classified the patients into non-suture and suture duraplasty craniectomy groups. We compared the characteristics of patients and their intra/post- operative findings such as operative time, blood loss, imaging findings, complications, and Glasgow outcome scale.ResultsThere were 37 patients in the non-suture group and 69 in the suture craniectomy group. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to general characteristics. The operative time was 205 min for the suture duraplasty group and 150 min for the non-suture duraplasty group, and that for the non-suture duraplasty group was significantly lesser (p=0.002). Blood loss was significantly lesser in the non-suture duraplasty group (1000 mL) than in the suture duraplasty group (1500 mL, p=0.028). There were no other significant differences.ConclusionNon-suture duraplasty involved shorter operative time and lesser blood loss when compared to suture duraplasty. Other complications and prognosis were similar in both groups. Therefore, it can be concluded that decompressive craniectomy with non-suture duraplasty is a safe and useful surgical technique in patients with TBI.

Objective. Nowadays, trans-sacral epiduroscopic laser decompression (SELD) using slender epiduroscopy and laser is one of the preferred options for minimally invasive treatment in lumbar disc diseases. However, SELD is still in the initial stages of the global field of spine surgery, and the clinical outcomes in patients with lumbar disc herniation are not established yet. Therefore, the authors investigated patients undergoing SELD to report the clinical results. Methods. Between November 2015 and November 2018, a total of 82 patients who underwent single-level SELD for lumbar disc herniation with a minimum follow-up of 6.0 months were enrolled. A retrospective review of clinical data was conducted. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for low back and leg pain and Odom’s criteria. Also, surgical outcomes, including complications and symptom recurrences, and radiological outcomes were analyzed. Results. Low back pain and leg pain as determined by the VAS improved from an average of 5.43 ± 1.73 and 6.10 ± 1.67 to 2.80 ± 1.43 and 3.58 ± 2.08 at the final follow-up (p<0.001). According to Odom’s criteria, the success rate defined as excellent or good results at the final follow-up was 58.5%. There were no surgery-related complications such as neurologic deficits, infection, or epidural hematomas, except for transient mild paralysis in 3 patients and procedure-related nuchal pain in 2 patients. The rate of additional procedures was 17.0% (6 patients received revision surgery and 8 patients received an additional nerve block) during the follow-up. Conclusion. Our findings showed that SELD for lumbar herniated disc disease achieved less favorable clinical outcomes compared with those of previous studies. Further study is needed to clarify the influencing factors on the clinical outcomes of SELD.

Purpose Asthma is a heterogeneous airway disease occurring in children, and it has various clinical phenotypes. A clear differentiation of the clinical phenotypes can provide better asthma management and prediction of asthma prognosis. Little is currently known about asthma phenotypes in Korean children. This study was designed to identify asthma phenotypes in school-aged Korean children. Methods This study enrolled 674 children with physician-diagnosed asthma from the Korean childhood Asthma Study (KAS) cohort. The physicians verified the relevant histories of asthma and comorbid diseases, as well as airway lability and hyper-responsiveness from the results of pulmonary function tests and bronchial provocation tests. Questionnaires regarding the participants' baseline characteristics, their environment and self-rating of asthma control were collected at the time of enrollment. Laboratory tests were performed to assess allergy and airway inflammation. Children with asthma were classified by hierarchical cluster analysis. Results Of the 674 patients enrolled from the KAS cohort, 447 were included in the cluster analysis. Cluster analysis of these 447 children revealed 4 asthma phenotypes: cluster 1 (n = 216, 48.3%) which was characterized by male-dominant atopic asthma; cluster 2 (n = 79, 17.7%) which was characterized by early-onset atopic asthma with atopic dermatitis; cluster 3 (n = 47, 10.5%) which was characterized by puberty-onset, female-dominant atopic asthma with the low lung function; and cluster 4 (n = 105, 23.5%) which was characterized by early-onset, non-atopic dominant asthma. Conclusions The asthma phenotypes among Korean children can be classified into 4 distinct clusters. Long-term follow-up with these phenotypes will be needed to define their prognosis and response to treatment.

Purpose Childhood asthma has a considerable social impact and economic burden, especially in severe asthma. This study aimed to identify the proportion of childhood asthma severity and to evaluate associated factors for greater asthma severity. Methods This study was performed on 667 children aged 5-15 years with asthma from the nationwide 19 hospitals in the Korean childhood Asthma Study (KAS). Asthma was classified as mild intermittent, mild persistent, and moderate/severe persistent groups according to the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program recommendations. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to identify the associated factors for greater asthma severity. Results Mild persistent asthma was most prevalent (39.0%), followed by mild intermittent (37.6%), moderate persistent (22.8%), and severe persistent asthma (0.6%). Onset later than 6 years of age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.69 for mild persistent asthma; aOR, 1.92 for moderate/severe persistent asthma) tended to increase asthma severity. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (aOR, 1.53 for mild persistent asthma; aOR, 1.85 for moderate/severe persistent asthma), and current dog ownership with sensitization to dog dander (aOR, 5.86 for mild persistent asthma; aOR, 6.90 for moderate/severe persistent asthma) showed increasing trends with greater asthma severity. Lower maternal education levels (aOR, 2.32) and no usage of an air purifier in exposure to high levels of outdoor air pollution (aOR, 1.76) were associated with moderate/severe persistent asthma. Conclusions Modification of identified environmental factors associated with greater asthma severity might help better control childhood asthma, thereby reducing the disease burden due to childhood asthma.

This study aimed to investigate the association between a dual-task intervention program and cognitive and physical functions. In a randomized controlled trial, we enrolled 49 individuals with MCI. The MCI diagnosis was based on medical evaluations through a clinical interview conducted by a dementia specialist. Cognitive assessments were performed by neuropsychologists according to standardized methods, including the MMSE and modified Alzheimer’s disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog), both at baseline and at 3 months follow-up. The program comprised physical activity and behavior modification, aerobic exercise, and a cognitive and exercise combined intervention program. Analysis of the subjects for group-time interactions revealed that the exercise group exhibited a significantly improved ADAS-Cog, working memory, and executive function. Total physical activity levels were associated with improvements in working memory function and the modified ADAS-Cog score, and the associations were stronger for daily moderate intensity activity than for daily step count. The 24-week combined intervention improved cognitive function and physical function in patients with MCI relative to controls. Encouraging participants to perform an additional 10 min of moderate physical activity under supervision, during ongoing intervention, may be more beneficial to prevent cognitive decline and improve exercise adherence.

Objective: Various numerical asthma control tools have been developed to distinguish different levels of symptom control. We aimed to examine whether the asthma control test (ACT) is reflective of objective findings such as lung function, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and laboratory data in patients with stable asthma. Methods: We included patients who were enrolled in the Korean Childhood Asthma Study. ACT, spirometry, blood tests and FeNO were performed in patients after stabilization of their asthma. We examined differences among spirometry parameters, blood tests and FeNO according to control status as determined by ACT and investigated for any significant correlations. Results: The study population consisted of 441 subjects. Spirometry showed that forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity and FEV1/forced vital capacity were all significantly higher in the controlled asthma group. Likewise, FeNO and percent-change in FEV1 were both significantly lower in the controlled asthma group. In blood tests, the eosinophil fraction was significantly lower in the controlled asthma group while white blood cell count was significantly higher in the controlled asthma group. Lastly, among the various factors analyzed, only provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 significantly correlated with ACT score. Conclusion: ACT is useful as part of the routine evaluation of asthmatic children and should be used as a complement to existing tools such as spirometry and FeNO measurement.

Background Asthma is a syndrome composed of heterogeneous disease entities. Although it is agreed that proper asthma endo-typing and appropriate type-specific interventions are crucial in the management of asthma, little data are available regarding pediatric asthma. Methods We designed a cluster-based, prospective, observational cohort study of asthmatic children in Korea (Korean childhood Asthma Study [KAS]). A total of 1000 Korean asthmatic children, aged from 5 to 15 years, will be enrolled at the allergy clinics of the 19 regional tertiary hospitals from August 2016 to December 2018. Physicians will verify the relevant histories of asthma and comorbid diseases, as well as airway lability from the results of spirometry and bronchial provocation tests. Questionnaires regarding subjects’ baseline characteristics and their environment, self-rating of asthma control, and laboratory tests for allergy and airway inflammation will be collected at the time of enrollment. Follow-up data regarding asthma control, lung function, and environmental questionnaires will be collected at least every 6 months to assess outcome and exacerbation-related aggravating factors. In a subgroup of subjects, peak expiratory flow rate will be monitored by communication through a mobile application during the overall study period. Cluster analysis of the initial data will be used to classify Korean pediatric asthma patients into several clusters; the exacerbation and progression of asthma will be assessed and compared among these clusters. In a subgroup of patients, big data-based deep learning analysis will be applied to predict asthma exacerbation. Discussion Based on the assumption that asthma is heterogeneous and each subject exhibits a different subset of risk factors for asthma exacerbation, as well as a different disease progression, the KAS aims to identify several asthma clusters and their essential determinants, which are more suitable for Korean asthmatic children. Thereafter we may suggest cluster-specific strategies by focusing on subjects’ personalized aggravating factors during each exacerbation episode and by focusing on disease progression. The KAS will provide a good academic background with respect to each interventional strategy to achieve better asthma control and prognosis.

To demonstrate the efficacy of a highly hydrophilic polyurethane foam dressing in the treatment of diabetic ulcers.Diabetic foot ulcers often pose a difficult treatment problem. Polyurethane foam dressings have been used worldwide to accelerate wound healing, but only a few clinical studies demonstrate the effect of foam dressing on the healing of diabetic ulcers.Medical records of 1342 patients with diabetic ulcers who were admitted and treated at the authors' institution were reviewed. A total of 208 patients met the study's inclusion criteria. Of these 208 patients, 137 were treated with a highly hydrophilic polyurethane foam dressing, and 71 were treated with saline gauze (control group). Except for the application of polyurethane foam dressing, the treatment method was identical for patients in both groups. The wound healing outcomes of the 2 groups were compared.Complete wound healing occurred in 87 patients (63.5%) in the polyurethane foam dressing group and in 28 patients (39.4%) in the control group within 12 weeks (P.05, X test). The mean percentage of wound area reduction in both groups was statistically significant (P.05, Mann-Whitney U test). The mean time required for complete closure in patients who achieved complete healing within 12 weeks was 6.2 (SD, 3.4) weeks and 7.3 (SD, 2.6) weeks in the polyurethane foam dressing and control groups, respectively (P.05, Mann-Whitney U test).These results indicate that the highly hydrophilic polyurethane foam dressing may provide an effective treatment strategy for diabetic foot ulcers.

The present study was undertaken to determine whether a more aesthetically acceptable nostril shape could be created by manipulating the dilator naris muscles. Patients who had round or horizontally shaped nostrils were treated by resecting the dilator naris muscle to attenuate the dilating and lateral pulling effect of the muscles. The resected muscle segments were inserted into the nasal tip area to project the nasal tip. Manipulating the dilator muscle shaped the nostril more vertically and enhanced nasal tip augmentation. The ratio of the short axis to the long axis of the nostril was improved significantly. The interaxial angle became more acute. The patient satisfaction score was also increased. A more aesthetically pleasing nostril shape can be produced by resecting and grafting the dilator naris muscle segments. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic, IV.

Dermal fillers are generally accepted as safe and well-tolerable cosmetic tools. However, adverse reactions have been reported in the literature. Here, we present a case of atypical facial filler granuloma and compare its histologic features with those of the classic paraffinoma.

PURPOSE Although anaphylaxis is recognized as an important, life-threatening condition, data are limited regarding its triggers in different age groups. We aimed to identify anaphylaxis triggers by age in Korean children. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of medical records for children diagnosed with anaphylaxis between 2009 and 2013 in 23 secondary or tertiary hospitals in South Korea. RESULTS A total of 991 cases (mean age=5.89±5.24) were reported, with 63.9% involving patients younger than 6 years of age and 66% involving male children. Food was the most common anaphylaxis trigger (74.7%), followed by drugs and radiocontrast media (10.7%), idiopathic factors (9.2%), and exercise (3.6%). The most common food allergen was milk (28.4%), followed by egg white (13.6%), walnut (8.0%), wheat (7.2%), buckwheat (6.5%), and peanut (6.2%). Milk and seafood were the most common anaphylaxis triggers in young and older children, respectively. Drug-triggered anaphylaxis was observed more frequently with increasing age, with antibiotics (34.9%) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (17.9%) being the most common causes. CONCLUSIONS The most common anaphylaxis trigger in Korean children was food. Data on these triggers show that their relative frequency may vary by age.

Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has become a common wound care treatment modality for a variety of wounds. Several previous studies have reported that NPWT increases blood flow in the wound bed. However, NPWT might decrease tissue oxygenation in the wound bed because the foam sponge of NPWT compresses the wound bed under the influence of the applied negative pressure. Adequate tissue oxygenation is an essential consideration during diabetic foot management, and the foot is more sensitive to ischemia than any other region. Furthermore, the issue as to whether NPWT reduces or increases tissue oxygenation in diabetic feet has never been correctly addressed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of NPWT on tissue oxygenation in diabetic feet.Transcutaneous partial oxygen pressures (TcPO2) were measured to determine tissue oxygenation levels beneath NPWT dressings on 21 feet of 21 diabetic foot ulcer patients.A TcPO2 sensor was fixed at the tarsometatarsal area of contralateral unwounded feet. A suction pressure of -125 mm Hg was applied until TcPO2 reached a steady state. The TcPO2 values for diabetic feet were measured before, during, and after NPWT.The TcPO2 levels decreased significantly after applying NPWT in all patients. Mean TcPO2 values before, during, and after therapy were 44.6 (SD, 15.2), 6.0 (SD, 7.1), and 40.3 (SD, 16.4) mm Hg (P.01), respectively.These results show that NPWT significantly reduces tissue oxygenation levels in diabetic feet.

ObjectivesTransforaminal percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) for high-grade migrated disc herniation has been regarded as a challenging task, but because of the remarkable improvement in navigable instruments and advanced epiduroscopic technique, it can be used for the treatment of high- or very high-grade migrated disc herniation. The purpose of this study was to describe in detail the standardized technique of transforaminal PELD for very high-grade migrated disc herniation and demonstrate the clinical results.MethodsVery high-grade lumbar migrated disc herniation was defined as a disc migration beyond the inferior margin of the pedicle. Thirteen consecutive patients with very high-grade lumbar migrated disc herniation were treated with transforaminal PELD, which has three stages: (1) direction-oriented transforaminal approach, (2) release of periannular anchorage, and (3) epiduroscopic fragmentectomy with navigable instruments. The surgical outcomes were assessed using the visual analogue pain score (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and modified Macnab criteria.ResultsThe operated levels were L3-4 in 2 (15.4%) patients, L4-5 in 10 (76.9%), and L5-S1 in 1 (7.7%). The directions of migration were cranial in 8 patients and caudal in 5. The mean VAS for leg pain improved from 7.86±1.28 preoperatively to 2.54±1.51 at 6 weeks postoperatively and 1.85±1.07 at 1year postoperatively (P

BACKGROUND There is still considerable disagreement regarding the role of vitamin D in the development or exacerbation of allergic diseases. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between serum vitamin D levels and recent symptoms of allergic diseases in elementary schoolchildren. METHODS A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted in children ages 6-7 years from 45 randomly selected elementary schools. The presence of atopic dermatitis (AD) or asthma was defined as medical treatment of children for AD or asthma within 12 months of the survey. The presence of allergic rhinitis (AR) was defined as medical treatment for AR during the past 12 months and a positive skin test response. Current AD was defined as confirmed eczema on physical examination. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) was measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. RESULTS Questionnaire data and blood samples were collected from 3720 children. The overall prevalence rates of vitamin D insufficiency (20-29 ng/mL) and deficiency (

Summary Purpose Bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) is a key feature of asthma. The degree of BHR in children may be altered by several factors. We evaluated the prevalence of BHR according to age and gender in pediatric and adolescent population and analyzed the associated factors for gender differences. Methods Among the 2,067 subjects, methacholine challenge tests were performed in 1,820 children from one elementary and one middle school in Seoul, Korea. A total of 1,725 subjects between 6 and 14 years old were included in the analysis. The prevalence of BHR, defined as a provocative concentration that induced a 20% reduction of FEV1 (PC20) that was less than 8 mg/ml, was evaluated according to age and gender. Gender differences associated with BHR prevalence at each age were calculated and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with BHR by gender. Results The prevalence of BHR (PC20 ≤ 8 mg/ml) for each gender decreased with age (P

OBJECTIVE Surgical drains are commonly used after the spine surgeries for minimizing hematoma formation, which can delay wound healing and may become a source of fibrosis, infection, and pain. The drain, however, may provide a direct route for infection if it is contaminated. Our objective was to survey the relationship between surgical drains and infection. METHODS The 70 patients who had undergone single-level lumbar discectomy from April 2011 to March 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Each patient's medical chart and magnetic resonance image were thoroughly reviewed after all the patients had been divided into the drainage and the nondrainage groups. The amounts and durations of the surgical drains in the drainage group were analyzed. Additionally, the levels of C-reactive protein, rates of infection, scores of preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS), and lengths of hospital stay after operation were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS In this study, 70 patients were retrospectively analyzed; out of which, 42 and 28 patients were included in the drainage and the nondrainage groups, respectively. Two of the postoperative infection cases in the nondrainage group required to undergo repeated operations. The frequency of the postoperative infection cases was higher in the nondrainage group than in the drainage group; however, there was no significant statistical difference between the 2 groups (p=0.157). CONCLUSION Surgical drains did not elevate postoperative infection. Furthermore, drain tip cultures allowed us to detect postoperative infection at an early stage, and it led to faster initiation of antibiotics treatment.

To evaluate the learning curve of percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal lumbar discectomy (PETLD) from the novice stage to the proficient stage, we performed retrospective study for patients with lumbar disc herniation who underwent PETLD performed by a single surgeon and evaluated the surgeon's learning curve and the effect of surgical proficiency on outcomes. A total of 48 patients who underwent PETLD at the lower lumbar level (L3–S1) with a minimum 1-year follow-up were enrolled. The learning curve of the surgeon was assessed using cumulative study of operation time and linear regression analyses to reveal the correlation between operation time and case series number. Because the cutoff of familiarity was 25 cases according to the cumulative study of operation time, the patients were allocated into two groups: early group (n = 25) and late group (n = 23). The clinical, surgical, and radiological outcomes were retrospectively evaluated and compared between the two groups. According to linear regression analyses, the operation time was obtained using the following formula: operation time (minutes) = 69.925–(0.503 × [case number]) (P

Background: Insufficient physical activity (PA) has a negative effect on mental health. Many countries try to promote PA. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) aims to promote PA and the importance of the recognition of subjective health and body image and mental health. Objectives: The study aimed to analyze the relationship among body factors, PA, and mental health of Korean adults using the seventh KNHANES (2018) survey. Methods: KNHANES is a cross-sectional survey and investigates every 3 years. Data contain 4416 households (19–65-year-old) responses, and it was weighted average or sample fraction by reflecting the sampling and response rate of population ratio. International PA Questionnaire, metabolic equivalents tasks, Health Enhancing PA, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Body factors, subjective health recognition, and subjective body image recognition were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square test, and Pearson's r. Results: Correlation among PA and mental health, PA of females was correlated with stress. The PA of males was highly related to the overall mental health. In the differences by gender and PA, females enjoying exercise have a tendency of less body mass index (BMI) and more satisfied with subjective body image. Males showed no difference in BMI but on body factors; males with vigorous activity were higher on height and weight than males with walking activity. Mental health with PA, females with walking activity showed higher depression than females with moderate activity. Likewise, males with walking activity exhibited higher depression than males with moderate and vigorous activity. Females and males showed their PA affects perceived stress. Conclusion: These results suggest promoting PA may lead to enhance mental health.

Recently, trans-sacral epiduroscopic laser decompression (SELD) using flexible epiduroscopy and laser system is 1 of the options for minimally invasive surgery in herniated lumbar disc. However, outcomes after SELD in patients with disc herniation of lumbar spine are not proven worldwide. The authors reported clinical, surgical, and radiological outcome after SELD in patients with mild to moderate disc herniation. Between 2015 and 2018, eighty-two patients who underwent SELD for single level disc herniation with a minimum follow-up of 6.0 months were investigated retrospectively. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the visual analog scale for low back and leg pain and Odom's criteria for patient satisfaction. Also, surgical outcomes, including complications, recurrences, and revision surgeries, and radiological outcomes using regular simple radiograph were analyzed. The mean visual analog scale score of low back pain and leg pain improved from 5.43 ± 1.73 and 6.10 ± 1.67 to 2.80 ± 1.43 and 3.58 ± 2.08 at the final follow-up (p

Background Anaphylaxis is increasing in young children. The aim of the present study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of anaphylaxis in Korean infants, with a focus on food triggers. Methods The study analyzed the medical records of infants aged 0 to 2 years old who had been diagnosed with anaphylaxis in 23 secondary or tertiary hospitals in Korea. Results We identified 363 cases of infantile anaphylaxis (66.9% male). Cutaneous symptoms were most prevalent (98.6%), followed by respiratory (83.2%), gastrointestinal (29.8%), and neurologic (11.6%) symptoms. Cardiovascular symptoms were noted in 7.7% of the cases. Most of the cases of anaphylaxis (338; 93.1%) were induced by foods. The most common trigger food was cow's milk and cow's milk products (43.8%), followed by hen's eggs (21.9%), walnuts (8.3%), wheat (7.7%), peanuts (4.8%), other nuts (3.0%), and fish (2.1%). In cow's milk-induced anaphylaxis cases, more than half the cases had cow's milk specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) levels that were lower than the diagnostic decision points (DDPs), which is 5 kUA/L for those under the age of 1 and 15 kUA/L for those over the age of 1. In anaphylaxis induced by hen's egg, most of the cases (91.8%) had hen's egg sIgE levels that were higher than the DDP, which is 2 kUA/L for those under the age of 2 and 7 kUA/L for those over the age of 2. Of the infantile anaphylaxis cases, 46.8% had been treated with epinephrine, and 25.1% had been prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector. Conclusion Cow's milk is the most frequent trigger food of anaphylaxis in Korean infants. However, we found no significant correlation between the sIgE level and clinical severity. Education is required regarding the importance of epinephrine as the first line therapy for anaphylaxis and on properly prescribing epinephrine for infants with a history of anaphylaxis., Graphical Abstract