Signal Detection of Alpha-adrenoceptor Antagonist using the KIDS-KAERS database (KIDS-KD)

Background@#Using KIDS-KAERS database (KIDS-KD) from 2016 to 2020, the aim is to investigate signals of adverse events of alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists and to present adverse events that are not included in the precautions for use when marketing approval. @*Methods@#This study was conducted by disproportionality analysis. Data mining analysis was performed to detect signals of alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists, such as terazosin, doxazosin, alfuzosin, silodosin, and tamsulosin. The signal was defined by three criteria as proportional reporting ratio (PRR), reporting odds ratio (ROR), and information component (IC). Detected signals were compared with product labeling and the European Medicines Agency-Important Medical Events list. @*Results@#Out of the total number of 408,077 reports for adverse events, 6,750 cases were reported as adverse events of alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists. Dizziness, mouth dryness, hypotension postural, and oedema peripheral are identified as common adverse events of five alphaadrenoceptor antagonists and are typically listed on drug labels. However, new signals were detected for pneumonia, chronic obstructive airway disease, eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts, fracture, and ileus of tamsulosin that were not previously listed on the drug labels in Korea. @*Conclusions@#This study identified signals related to adverse drug reactions of alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists and presented serious adverse events, suggesting new adverse reactions to be aware of when using alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists.

Factors Influencing Hearing Aid Adoption in Patients With Hearing Loss in Korea

Background@#The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) to identify differences in the characteristics of adopters and non-adopters of hearing aids (HAs); and 2) to investigate factors influencing the purchase of HA. @*Methods@#This study was conducted among 1,464 subjects (818 male and 646 female) with hearing loss. A national face-to-face survey was performed from August 2019 to October 2020 by otologists or HA experts. The questionnaire consisted of three domains:demographic, audiological, and HA-related domains. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed after adjusting for degree of hearing loss. @*Results@#The mean age of the participants was 70.4 ± 12.2 years. Of the 1,464 respondents, 1,190 (81.3%) had already purchased HA. We identified educational level, household income, hearing loss period, place of HA purchase, and government HA assistance program status as factors influencing HA adoption. Among these factors, third party reimbursement was the most important factor affecting HA purchase intent. The main reasons for not adopting HA were feeling that their hearing was adequate, inability to afford HA, and perceptions that HA are uncomfortable. @*Conclusion@#Various factors are involved in the purchase of HA, but disabled registration status and third party reimbursement were identified as the most critical factors. In the future, the government should take a more active role in increasing the distribution of HA to patients with hearing loss.

Analysis of Failure Causes of Open Airway Reconstruction in Children With Combined Subglottic and Posterior Glottic Stenosis / 대한이비인후과학회지

Background and Objectives@#Airway reconstruction surgery in children is still challenging, especially in cases of combined subglottic and posterior glottic stenosis (PGS). The aim of this study was to review the underlying reasons of failure in open airway reconstruction surgeries performed for children with combined subglottic and PGS.Subjects and Method We reviewed medical records of seven children who received more than two open airway reconstruction surgeries to finally achieve and maintain decannulation status for more than one year. Twenty-two reconstructive surgeries were performed and they consisted of 19 laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR), 2 cricotracheal resection with end-toend anastomosis (CTR) and one extended CTR. For each patient, the following potential causes of failure were evaluated; preoperative evaluation (PE), type of reconstruction (TR), single vs. double staging (SDS), type of stent (TS), and perioperative optimization (PO). @*Results@#The median age of patients at the time of surgery was 32 months (range, 4-64 months). Successful decannulation was achieved after the median open surgery of three (range, 2-5 times for each patient). Recognized causes of failure were as follows: 8 insufficient PE, 10 inadequate TR, 3 improper SDS, 8 ill-chosen TS, and 2 inappropriate PO. @*Conclusion@#PE of dynamic airway is important, especially vocal fold mobility and tracheomalacia. Types of reconstruction should be carefully decided after full consideration of potential causes of failure, and adequate laryngotracheal stent is essential.

Endonasal Septal Perforation Repair: Free Mucosal Graft With Lyoplant® Bioscaffold

Nasal septal perforation (NSP) is a common complication of nasal surgery and can cause nasal obstruction, crust, and epistaxis. Many surgical methods have been introduced for repair of NSP, among which mucosal flap and artificial dermis have been widely used. However, mucosal graft can shrink and migrate and is difficult to fix at the perforation site. Mucosal advancement flap requires a wide extent of septal mucosa dissection, and artificial dermis can cause nasal obstruction because of its bulkiness and lower biocompatibility than autologous mucosa. To overcome these problems, we reported successful outcomes in 4 cases of small NSP by free mucosal graft with bioscaffold.

Clinical significance of high on-treatment platelet reactivity in patients with prolonged clopidogrel therapy

Background/Aims@#Prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and clopidogrel beyond 1 year has been shown to reduce ischemic events at the expense of increased bleeding. However, limited data are available on the clinical significance of platelet reactivity (PR) at 1 year. @*Methods@#We retrospectively identified 331 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and assessed the on-clopidogrel PR using VerifyNow P2Y12 assay at 1 year in a single center. Two hundred eleven patients were on DAPT for > 1 year. The relationship between high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) at 1 year and clinical outcomes beyond 1 year, as well as the longitudinal change in PR was analyzed. @*Results@#At 1 year, 135 (64%) patients showed HPR and 76 (36%) did not. There was a significant increase in ischemic endpoint events, including cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and stroke/transient ischemic attack in patients with compared to without HPR at 1 year (hazard ratio [HR], 2.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 6.77; p = 0.036). However, the incidence of any Bleeding Academic Research Consortium bleeding was significantly lower in the HPR group (HR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.65; p = 0.015). In the longitudinal analysis, PR significantly decreased from post-load to 1 year after index PCI in the non-HPR group. Conversely, the HPR group showed high PR from baseline through 1 year. @*Conclusions@#HPR at 1 year may be a useful surrogate for predicting ischemic and bleeding events in patients on prolonged DAPT. Patients with and without HPR at 1 year showed different patterns of longitudinal change in PR.

Endoscopic Resection of Functional Paraganglioma of the Pterygopalatine Fossa: A Case Report

Functional paraganglioma is a rare tumor that secretes the catecholamine which is able to cause secondary hypertension. Surgical resection is the only curative treatment modality for this tumor, which can correct the secondary hypertension. The pterygopalatine fossa is a small retromaxillary space which contains a neurovascular bundle that crosses the middle cranial fossa to the nasal cavity, nasal septum, and oral cavity. To our knowledge, two cases have been reported for functional paraganglioma involving the pterygopalatine fossa removed by surgery. We present a patient who had a catecholamine-secreting paraganglioma in the pterygopalatine fossa, which is the first case successfully resected with an endoscopic approach.

Factors Associated with Low Awareness of Heart Failure in the General Population of Korea

Background and Objectives@#Factors associated with low heart failure (HF) awareness have not been well-evaluated. This study was conducted to find out which demographic features would be associated with low HF awareness in the general population of Korea. @*Methods@#A telephone interview was conducted with 1,032 adults (58 years and 50.6% were male) across the country. Based on answer to 15 questions about HF, we scored from 0 to 15 points (mean, 7.53±2.75; median, 8; interquartile range, 6–9). A score of <8 was defined as low HF awareness, and a score of ≥8 was defined as high HF awareness. @*Results@#A total of 478 subjects (46.3%) had low HF awareness. HF awareness scores were 5.18±1.85 and 9.55±1.50 in subjects of low and high HF awareness groups, respectively. Subjects with low HF awareness were older, more female-dominant, more diabetic, lower educational and house hold income levels, and more frequently living in rural areas, compared to those with high HF awareness (p<0.05 for each). In multivariable logistic regression analyses, older age (≥67 years: odds ratio [OR], 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–2.19; p=0.004), female sex (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.02–1.73; p=0.034) and low educational level (high school graduate or less vs. college graduate: OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.75–3.22; p<0.001) were significantly associated with low HF awareness even after controlling for potential confounders. @*Conclusions@#Older age, female sex, and lower level of education were independently associated with low HF awareness in the general Korean population. More attention and education are needed for these vulnerable groups to improve HF awareness.

Impact of Longitudinal Changes in Metabolic Syndrome Status over 2 Years on 10-Year Incident Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a known predictor of diabetes mellitus (DM), but whether longitudinal changes in MetS status modify the risk for DM remains unclear. We investigated whether changes in MetS status over 2 years modify the 10-year risk of incident DM. METHODS: We analyzed data from 7,317 participants aged 40 to 70 years without DM at baseline, who took part in 2001 to 2011 Korean Genome Epidemiology Study. Subjects were categorized into four groups based on repeated longitudinal assessment of MetS status over 2 years: non-MetS, resolved MetS, incident MetS, and persistent MetS. The hazard ratio (HR) of new-onset DM during 10 years was calculated in each group using Cox models. RESULTS: During the 10-year follow-up, 1,099 participants (15.0%) developed DM. Compared to the non-MetS group, the fully adjusted HRs for new-onset DM were 1.28 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92 to 1.79) in the resolved MetS group, 1.75 (95% CI, 1.30 to 2.37) in the incident MetS group, and 1.98 (95% CI, 1.50 to 2.61) in the persistent MetS group (P for trend <0.001). The risk of DM in subjects with resolved MetS was significantly attenuated compared to those with persistent MetS over 2 years. In addition, the adjusted HR for 10-year developing DM gradually increased as the number of MetS components increased 2 years later. CONCLUSION: We found that discrete longitudinal changes pattern in MetS status over 2 years associated with 10-year risk of DM. These findings suggest that monitoring change of MetS status and controlling it in individuals may be important for risk prediction of DM.

Two Cases of Complications during Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Myocardial Infarction in Patients with Concurrent Chronic Total Occlusion in an Emergency Setting

Morbidity and mortality rates associated with acute myocardial infarction accompanying chronic total occlusion are comparatively high. European guidelines recommend primary intervention for the causative lesion in patient with acute myocardial infarction. Therefore, it is important to identify the culprit lesion. We report two cases of myocardial infarction with concurrent chronic total occlusion in an emergency setting.

A Rare Case of Nodular Mucinosis of the Breast

No abstract available.

Sarpogrelate Based Triple Antiplatelet Therapy Improved Left Ventricular Systolic Function in Acute Myocardial Infarction: Retrospective Study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the potential benefit of a 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor antagonist, sarpogrelate-based triple antiplatelet therapy (TAPT) in comparison with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 119 patients of STEMI were retrospectively assessed. All patients received aspirin and clopidogrel per standard of care. Among them, 53 patients received an additional loading dose of sarpogrelate and a maintenance dose for 6 months post-PCI (TAPT group), while others did not (DAPT group). RESULTS: The rates of complete ST-segment resolution at 30 minutes post-PCI and post-procedural thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow were not significantly different between the two groups (52.8% vs. 48.5%, p=0.200; 92.5% vs. 89.4%, p=0.080). In addition, no significant differences were observed between the two groups with regard to 30-day and 12-month clinical outcomes (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, target vessel revascularization, and severe bleeding). Meanwhile, improvement in left ventricular (LV) systolic function was observed in the TAPT group [ΔLV ejection fraction (LVEF)=17.1±9.4%, p<0.001; Δglobal longitudinal strain (GLS)=−9.4±4.2% , p<0.001] at 6 months, whereas it was not in the DAPT group (ΔLVEF= 8.8±6.5%, p=0.090; ΔGLS=−4.6±3.4%, p=0.106). In multivariate analyses, TAPT was an independent predictor for LV functional recovery (odds ratio, 2.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.16–5.87; p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Sarpogrelate-based TAPT improved LV systolic function at 6 months in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

Development of a Robotic Colonoscopic Manipulation System, Using Haptic Feedback Algorithm

PURPOSE: Colonoscopy is one of the most effective diagnostic and therapeutic tools for colorectal diseases. We aim to propose a master-slave robotic colonoscopy that is controllable in remote site using conventional colonoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The master and slave robot were developed to use conventional flexible colonoscopy. The robotic colonoscopic procedure was performed using a colonoscope training model by one expert endoscopist and two unexperienced engineers. To provide the haptic sensation, the insertion force and the rotating torque were measured and sent to the master robot. RESULTS: A slave robot was developed to hold the colonoscopy and its knob, and perform insertion, rotation, and two tilting motions of colonoscope. A master robot was designed to teach motions of the slave robot. These measured force and torque were scaled down by one tenth to provide the operator with some reflection force and torque at the haptic device. The haptic sensation and feedback system was successful and helpful to feel the constrained force or torque in colon. The insertion time using robotic system decreased with repeated procedures. CONCLUSION: This work proposed a robotic approach for colonoscopy using haptic feedback algorithm, and this robotic device would effectively perform colonoscopy with reduced burden and comparable safety for patients in remote site.

The Relation of Epicardial Fat Thickness, Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Circadian Rhythm of Blood Pressure

No abstract available.

Modified Blair Incision versus Modified Facelift Incision Combined with Sternocleidomastoid Muscular Flap in Parotidectomy / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility of a modified facelift incision with sternocleidomatoid muscular (SCM) flap as a first-line surgical approach for a parotidectomy by comparison with the modified Blair incision. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From March 2011 to February 2014, 66 patients who underwent parotidectomy were enrolled in the study and their medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with suspicious malignant tumor, metastatic lymph node, and parapharyngeal tumor in the preoperative examination were excluded from the study. Patients and tumor profiles, surgical outcomes, complications, and cosmetic outcomes were studied to compare the modified facelift incision between the SCM flap group (n=32) and the modified Blair incision group (n=34). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to tumor location, tumor size, extent of surgery, operative times, postoperative drainage, and any type of complications. The modified facelift incision with SCM flap group had higher scar satisfaction scores than the modified Blair incision group (8.5 vs. 5.7, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Modified facelift incision with SCM flap can be used as a first-line surgical approach for parotidectomy in benign parotid tumor with better cosmetic outcome without increased complications.

Old Age at Diagnosis Is Associated With Favorable Outcomes in Korean Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Despite the rising incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Asian populations, data regarding clinical characteristics of patients in Asia based on age at diagnosis are relatively sparse. The aim of this study was to compare clinical characteristics based on the age at diagnosis according to the Montreal Classification in Korean IBD patients. METHODS: We recruited consecutive patients with IBD at two tertiary hospitals and retrospectively reviewed their medical information. Patients were divided into three groups according to their age at diagnosis: youth (40 years). The main clinical characteristics for comparison were the achievement of a remission state at the last follow-up visit, cumulative rate of surgery, and cumulative use of immunomodulators and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) blockers during the follow-up period. RESULTS: In total, 346 IBD patients were included (Crohn's disease [CD] 146 and ulcerative colitis 200; 36 youth, 202 young adult, and 113 middle-old). The middle-old group with CD was characterized by a predominance of uncomplicated behavior (P=0.013) and a lower frequency of perianal disease (P=0.009). The middle-old group was associated more with a less aggressive disease course than the younger group, as shown by more frequent remission (P=0.004), being less likely to undergo surgery (P<0.001), and lower cumulative use of immunomodulators and TNFalpha blockers (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Age at diagnosis according to the Montreal Classification is an important prognostic factor for Korean IBD patients.

Comparison of Prolonged Atrial Electromechanical Delays with Different Definitions in the Discrimination of Patients with Non-Valvular Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have evaluated atrial electromechanical delays (AEMDs) with a number of different definitions to discriminate patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) from controls without PAF. However, their discriminative values for PAF have not previously been directly compared. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 65 PAF patients and 130 control subjects matched for age, sex, history of hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were selected. The AEMDi and AEMDp were defined as the time intervals from the initiation of the P wave on the surface electrocardiogram to the initiation and peak of the late diastolic transmitral inflow on pulsed wave Doppler images, respectively. The AEMDim and AEMDpm were defined as the time intervals from the initiation of the P wave on the surface electrocardiogram to the initiation and peak of the late diastolic lateral mitral annular motion on tissue Doppler images, respectively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics between the two groups. All 4 AEMDs were consistently longer in the PAF group, and proven effective to differentiate the PAF patients from the controls. The AEMDi measurement had a larger area under the curve (AUC) than the other AEMDs, left atrial volume index, and P wave amplitude. However, the AEMDp, AEMDim, and AEMDpm measurements had AUCs similar to those of the left atrial volume index and P wave amplitude. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the AEMDi is better than the other AEMDs for the discrimination of PAF patients from the controls.

A Rare Cause of Secondary Hypertension in A Young Adult

Reninoma is a rare, renin-secreting, benign renal neoplasm that can cause secondary hypertension. We report a case of a 21-year-old man who suffered from progressively worsening headache for 2 months with a history of hypertension for 7 years. Laboratory studies showed normal potassium level, increased basal plasma renin activity, and normal serum aldosterone level. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a small mass in the middle region of the right kidney. Partial nephrectomy was performed; immunohistochemical results demonstrated typical features of reninoma. Postoperatively, blood pressure and potassium level were normal at the 2-month follow-up.

A Case of Pheochromocytoma Presenting as Ventricular Tachycardia Storm / 대한내과학회지

A 35-year-old woman was admitted for recurrent palpitations and headache with cold sweats. No structural abnormality was detected via cardiac imaging studies. A standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT). Propranolol (120 mg/day) was administered; however, the frequency and duration of VT episodes increased rapidly. A 24-hr ambulatory ECG revealed frequent, successive, premature ventricular beats; accelerated idioventricular rhythms; and VTs with various cycle lengths and QRS complex morphologies. ECG findings suggested that the observed ventricular arrhythmias were driven by accelerated automaticity as their main electrophysiological mechanism. Based on clinical manifestations and ECG findings, pheochromocytoma was suspected. Solitary left adrenal pheochromocytoma was diagnosed by endocrine and imaging studies. Instead of propranolol, oral doxazosin (8 mg/day) was administered, and symptoms and VT attacks were successfully suppressed. After surgical resection of the pheochromocytoma, clinical VT was not observed in response to the high-dose isoproterenol provocation test.

Cardiac Arrest due to Recurrent Ventricular Fibrillation Triggered by Unifocal Ventricular Premature Complexes in a Silent Myocardial Infarction / 대한구급학회지

A 51-year-old male patient was referred for a sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, he was conscious and had no chest pain complaints. There was no abnormality in initial electrocardiographic and echocardiographic examinations. However, episodes of recurrent ventricular fibrillation (VF) were documented on rhythm monitoring. Each VF episode was triggered by an isolated monomorphic ventricular premature complex (VPC). Suspecting idiopathic VF, emergency radiofrequency catheter ablation was planned for the VPCs. However, when coronary angiography was performed to exclude silent ischemia, the results showed a total occlusion of the right coronary artery posterolateral branch, which is thought to supply the left ventricular inferior and septal wall. After successful reperfusion, VF episodes and the triggering VPCs disappeared. We are documenting this case to emphasize the potential for silent myocardial infarction to cause out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest even in a patient without any symptom or sign of acute coronary syndrome.

Chronological Outcomes and Learning Curve of Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Colorectal Tumors / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an effective procedure for en-bloc curative resection of the colorectal tumor. As it requires high technical skills and experience in therapeutic endoscopy, it is important to understand learning curve of ESD technique. The aim of this study was to retrospectively describe the clinical results of ESD and to evaluate learning curve for the ESD of colorectal tumors. METHODS: A total of 90 patients with 90 colorectal neoplasms, who had undergone ESD at a tertiary referral hospital from July 2009 to December 2012, were enrolled. The ESD was performed by a single endoscopist. All ESD cases were divided into three periods: first, cases 1-30; second, cases 31-60; and third, cases 61-90. RESULTS: The en-bloc resection rates in third period (100%) was significantly higher than that of the first (93.3%) and second period (80%) (p=0.025). The perforation rate in third period (0%) also significantly decreased compared with that of the first (13.3%) and second period (20%) (p=0.032). To calibrate the difference of tumor size among periods, proficiency was calculated, as the procedure time per specimen area (min/cm2). The proficiency in third period (4.3) was significantly shorter than that of the first (16.8) and second period (10.2) (p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The learning curve of colorectal ESD in our study shows that at least 60 cases of ESD have to be conducted to acquire sufficient skill of degree without perforation.