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Purpose@#We investigated the association between continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and mortality after acute glyphosate or glufosinate intoxication. @*Methods@#The electronic medical records of patients with acute herbicide ingestion who were admitted to the regional emergency center of a metropolitan city in Korea from 3/1/2013 to 2/28/2022 were analyzed and reviewed retrospectively. The case group received CRRT, while the control group did not. In total, 96 patients experienced acute herbicide intoxication in the study period. Baseline characteristics were analyzed and compared between the two groups after propensity score matching. The outcome variable was mortality fitted by a Cox proportional hazard model. @*Results@#After full matching between cases of CRRT use and controls (patients who did not receive CRRT) using propensity scores, 96 patients (27 cases, 69 controls) were analyzed. Propensity matching yielded adequate balance (standardized mean differences <0.25) for all covariates. We fit a Cox proportional hazards model with survival as the outcome and CRRT as a factor, including the matching weights in the estimation. The estimated hazard ratio was 0.41 (95% confidence interval, 0.23–0.76; p=0.0044), indicating that CRRT reduced mortality. @*Conclusion@#In this propensity score-matched analysis, CRRT reduced mortality in patients who visited the hospital with acute glyphosate or glufosinate intoxication. In patients with acute herbicide poisoning with high severity calculated by the APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) score and SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) score, CRRT should be actively considered to improve the survival rate.
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Patients frequently report that stress causes or exacerbates gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, indicating a functional relationship between the brain and the GI tract. The brain and GI tract are closely related embryologically and functionally, interacting in various ways. The concept of the brain–gut axis was originally established in the 19th and early 20th centuries based on physiological observations and experiments conducted in animals and humans. In recent years, with the growing recognition that gut microbiota plays a vital role in human health and disease, this concept has been expanded to the brain–gut–microbiota axis. The brain influences the motility, secretion, and immunity of the GI tract, with consequent effects on the composition and function of the gut microbiota. On the other hand, gut microbiota plays an essential role in the development and function of the brain and enteric nervous system. Although knowledge of the mechanisms through which the gut microbiota influences distant brain function is incomplete, studies have demonstrated communication between these organs through the neuronal, immune, and endocrine systems. The brain–gut–microbiota axis is an essential aspect of the pathophysiology of functional GI disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, and is also involved in other GI diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease. This review summarizes the evolving concept of the brain–gut–microbiota axis and its implications for GI diseases, providing clinicians with new knowledge to apply in clinical practice.
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Background/Aims@#Among several methods used to prevent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) bleeding, the recently developed hemostatic powder (HP) has few technical limitations and is relatively easy-to-use. This study aimed to analyze the hemostatic effects and mechanisms of two HPs using a porcine upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage model. @*Methods@#We evaluated HPs (Endospray and epidermal growth factor [EGF]-endospray) for adhesion, waterproofing ability, permeability, and absorption in vitro. ESD was performed to induce bleeding ulcers in the porcine stomachs. In a total of three pigs, three bleeding ulcers per animal were generated. Hemostasis and rebleeding were evaluated endoscopically. After 72 hours, the animals were sacrificed, and histologically analyzed. @*Results@#The water absorption of HPs was over 20 times the initial value within 30 minutes. The gelated HPs completely blocked water penetration into the applied site within 5 minutes and strongly adhered to the Petri-dish surface for up to 6 hours. The initial hemostasis rates within 5 minutes were 33.3%, 100.0%, and 66.7%, and the rebleeding rates at 6 to 72 hours after HP application were 33.3%, 16.7%, and 33.3% (control, Endospray, and EGF-endospray groups, respectively). Histological analysis revealed the thickness of the regenerated mucosa (522.1, 514.5, and 680.3 µm) and the submucosal layer (1,510.3, 2,848.2, and 3,062.3 µm) and the number of newly formed blood vessels (15.3, 17.9, and 20.5) in the control, Endospray, and EGFendospray groups, respectively. @*Conclusions@#The endoscopic HPs demonstrated the ability to elicit effective initial hemostasis and the histological ulcer-healing effect of EGF in an animal model of hemorrhagic gastric ulcers.
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Background/Aims@#Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is characterized by intestinal and extra intestinal symptoms associated with the consumption of gluten-containing food. Since biomarkers for non-celiac gluten sensitivity are lacking, its prevalence is estimated based on self-reported symptoms. However, no data exist on self-reported non-celiac gluten sensitivity in the Korean population. Thus, we aim to investigate the prevalence of self-reported non-celiac gluten sensitivity in the Korean population and to determine its demographic and clinical characteristics. @*Methods@#This study surveyed Korean participants aged 18-80 years who visited gastroenterology outpatient clinics at 9 tertiary hospitals in South Korea from January 2016 to February 2017. They were questioned regarding symptoms related to gluten ingestion: degree of discomfort (visual analog scale score), frequency, time of symptom onset, and duration. Abdominal discomfort caused by 11 differentkinds of gluten-containing Korean food items was investigated. @*Results@#More non-celiac gluten sensitivity self-reporters were identified among those with irritable bowel syndrome (33.6%) than among controls (5.8%). Major gastrointestinal symptoms included bloating (75.0%), abdominal discomfort (71.3%), and belching (45.0%).Common extra-intestinal symptoms included fatigue (20.0%) and headache (13.7%). More than half of those who self-reported nonceliac gluten sensitivity (66.3%) developed symptoms within 1 hour of food ingestion, and symptoms were localized in the upper abdomen (37.5%) and entire abdomen (30.0%). @*Conclusion@#Our findings suggest that if there are gluten-related symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome, the possibility of accompanying non-celiacgluten sensitivity should be considered.
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Various grading systems and surgical techniques have been developed for the treatment of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH); however, little attention has been paid to the fourth ventricle hematoma. Nonetheless, hemorrhagic dilation of the fourth ventricle may lead to catastrophic consequences for patients with massive IVH. We present two cases of massive IVH accompanied by massive fourth ventricle hematoma which was successfully removed with combination of suboccipital craniotomy for fourth ventricle hematoma and intraventricular fibrinolysis for supratentorial hematoma.
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Objectives@#：The purpose of this study is to compare the psychosocial characteristics of patients diagnosed with functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) by classifying them into irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia (FD), functional constipation (FC), functional heartburn (FH) groups, and overlap group (two or more functional diseases) and to examine the factors associated with the quality of life (QoL) of patients with FGID. @*Methods@#：A total of 144 patients who were diagnosed with FGID were selected as the subjects. The demographical factors were investigated; Korean-Beck Depression Inventory-II (K-BDI-II), Korean-Beck Anxiety Inventory (K-BAI), Korean version of Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (K-CTQ), Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Korean Version of Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (K-CD-RISC), and World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument Brief Form (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to evaluate the psychosocial factors. @*Results@#：TThe overlap group had a significantly higher K-BDI-II score (F=11.09, p<0.001) and K-BAI score (F=8.93, p<0.001) compared to other groups. In childhood trauma, the IBS patients had a difference in emotional neglect (F=2.54, p=0.04) than the FD patients. The QoL of FGID patients had a negative correlation with depression (r=-0.196, p<0.01), anxiety (r=-0.235, p<0.01), and childhood trauma (r=-0.222, p<0.01), and a positive correlation with social support (r=0.512, p<0.01) and resilience (r=0.581, p<0.01). @*Conclusions@#：Overlap group had a higher level of depression and anxiety, and the IBS patient group had a higher level of emotional neglect than the FD patient group in terms of childhood trauma.
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Objective@#Macrophages have been shown to play important roles in various pathophysiological processes of the central nervous system via neuroinflammation, leading to an increased interest in macrophage biology. Circulating blood monocytes are among the first cells to infiltrate the brain after ischemic stroke; however, the role of innate immune cells such as monocytes and macrophages remains to be elucidated. Here, we investigated the association between blood monocytes and infarct size following ischemic stroke. @*Methods@#We induced stroke using a focal ischemia mouse model through middle cerebral artery suture occlusion. To deplete circulating blood monocytes, clodronate was injected intraperitoneally 24 h before the surgery. Animals were sacrificed at specified time points, and the infarct size and mRNA expression were then measured. @*Results@#The clodronate-injected mice showed significantly smaller infarct size than the control mice. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that monocyte depletion significantly blocked the infiltration of macrophages and microglia. The mRNA expression levels of macrophage and microglia markers were higher in the left infarcted brain than in the right non-infarcted brain. @*Conclusions@#In summary, monocyte depletion reduced the infarct size and mitigated neurological deficits in mice following ischemic stroke, likely by blocking the infiltration of inflammatory cells such as macrophages and microglia.
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Background/Aims@#Constipation is a common gastrointestinal problem in the elderly. Because of the limitations of life style modifications and the comorbidity, laxative use is also very common. Therefore, this study reviews the latest literature on the effect and safety of laxative in the elderly. @*Methods@#A systematic review of randomized controlled trials investigating the effectiveness and safety of laxatives for constipation in elderly patients over 65 years old were performed using the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. @*Results@#Twenty-three randomized controlled trials were included in this review. Among the selected studies, 9 studies compared laxative with placebo and 5 studies compared laxatives of the same type. Four studies compared different types of laxatives or compared combination agents. Five studies compared novel medications such as prucalopride, lubiprostone, and elobixibat with placebo.Psyllium, calcium polycarbophil, lactulose syrup, lactitol, polyethylene glycol, magnesium hydroxide, stimulant laxative with or without fiber, and other medications were more effective than placebo in elderly constipation patients in short-term. Generally, the frequency and severity of adverse effects of laxative were similar between the arms of studies. @*Conclusions@#Bulk laxative, osmotic laxative, stimulant laxative with or without fiber, and other medications can be used in elderly patients in short-term within 3 months with reasonable safety. However, the quality of included studies was not high and most of studies was conducted in a small number of patients. Among these laxatives, polyethylene glycol seems to be safe and effective in long-term use of about 6 months in elderly patients.
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Background/Aims@#Constipation is a common gastrointestinal problem in the elderly. Because of the limitations of life style modifications and the comorbidity, laxative use is also very common. Therefore, this study reviews the latest literature on the effect and safety of laxative in the elderly. @*Methods@#A systematic review of randomized controlled trials investigating the effectiveness and safety of laxatives for constipation in elderly patients over 65 years old were performed using the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. @*Results@#Twenty-three randomized controlled trials were included in this review. Among the selected studies, 9 studies compared laxative with placebo and 5 studies compared laxatives of the same type. Four studies compared different types of laxatives or compared combination agents. Five studies compared novel medications such as prucalopride, lubiprostone, and elobixibat with placebo.Psyllium, calcium polycarbophil, lactulose syrup, lactitol, polyethylene glycol, magnesium hydroxide, stimulant laxative with or without fiber, and other medications were more effective than placebo in elderly constipation patients in short-term. Generally, the frequency and severity of adverse effects of laxative were similar between the arms of studies. @*Conclusions@#Bulk laxative, osmotic laxative, stimulant laxative with or without fiber, and other medications can be used in elderly patients in short-term within 3 months with reasonable safety. However, the quality of included studies was not high and most of studies was conducted in a small number of patients. Among these laxatives, polyethylene glycol seems to be safe and effective in long-term use of about 6 months in elderly patients.
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@#BACKGROUND: Adequate airway management plays an important role in high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Airway management is usually performed using an endotracheal tube (ETT) during CPR. However, no study has assessed the effect of ETT size on the flow rate and airway pressure during CPR. METHODS: We measured changes in peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR), peak airway pressure (Ppeak), and mean airway pressure (Pmean) according to changes in ETT size (internal diameter 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0 mm) and with or without CPR. A tidal volume of 500 mL was supplied at a rate of 10 times per minute using a mechanical ventilator. Chest compressions were maintained at a constant compression depth and speed using a mechanical chest compression device (LUCAS2, mode: active continuous, chest compression rate: 102±2/minute, chest compression depth 2–2.5 inches). RESULTS: The median of several respiratory physiological parameters during CPR was significantly different according to the diameter of each ETT (6.0 vs. 8.0 mm): PIFR (32.1 L/min [30.5–35.3] vs. 28.9 L/min [27.5–30.8], P<0.001), Ppeak (48.84 cmH2O [27.46–52.11] vs. 27.45 cmH2O [22.53–52.57], P<0.001), and Pmean (18.34 cmH2O [14.61–21.66] vs.13.66 cmH2O [8.41–19.24], P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The changes in PIFR, Ppeak, and Pmean were related to the internal diameter of ETT, and these values tended to decrease with an increase in ETT size. Higher airway pressures were measured in the CPR group than in the no CPR group.
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Achalasia is a rare primary esophageal motility disorder characterized by the loss of enteric neurons leading to an absence of peristalsis and impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. The subsequent stasis of ingested food not only leads to symptoms of dysphagia, regurgitation, chest pain, and weight loss, but also results in an increased risk of esophageal carcinoma. Structural or functional pulmonary abnormalities occur in more than half of patients and may be due to recurrent aspiration or tracheal compression from a dilated esophagus. Delayed diagnosis or ineffective intervention may lead to progressive dilation of the esophagus and the development of a megaesophagus. Respiratory distress and cardiopulmonary arrest from tracheal or left atrial compression secondary to a megaesophagus are rare complications of achalasia. There is only limited evidence that pneumatic dilation may be used as a first-line therapy for a megaesophagus. The choice of definitive treatment will depend on many factors including achalasia type, patient wishes, performance status, and surgical expertise.
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Objectives@#：The aim of this study was to compare psychosocial characteristics of the functional gastrointestinal disorders FGID group, non-FGID group, and control group and determine factors affecting the QOL of patients with FGID. @*Methods@#：135 patients diagnosed with FGID were selected. 79 adults had no observable symptoms of FGID (control group) and 88 adults showed symptoms of FGID (non-FGID group). Demographic factors were investigated. The Korean-Beck Depression Inventory-II, Korean-Beck Anxiety Inventory, Korean-Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-15 and WHO Quality of Life Assessment Instrument Brief Form were used to assess psychosocial factors. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare differences among groups. Pearson correlation test was performed to analyze the correlation of psychosocial factors and QOL of the FGID group. Further, a hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to determine factors affecting the QOL of the FGID group. @*Results@#：Between-group differences were not significant in demographic characteristics. Depression (F=48.75, p<0.001), anxiety (F=14.48, p<0.001), somatization (F=24.42, p<0.001) and childhood trauma (F=12.71, p<0.001) were significantly higher in FGID group than in other groups. Social support (F=39.95, p< 0.001) and resilience (F=17.51, p<0.001) were significantly lower in FGID group than in other groups. Resilience (β=0.373, p<0.01) was the most important explanatory variable. The explained variance was 47.2%. @*Conclusions@#：Significantly more symptoms of depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, and somatization were observed for the FGID group. This group also had less social support, resilience, and quality of life than the non- FGID and control groups. The key factor for quality of life of the FGID group was resilience.
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Objective@#This study investigated the characteristics of elderly pneumonia patients transferred from long-term care hospitals(LTCH). @*Methods@#The initial emergency department (ED) data of patients, who were transferred from other hospitals and over 65years old and hospitalized from 2014 to 2018 for pneumonia management through the ED, were extracted from the electronicmedical records. The differences in the initial status and prognosis between the LTCH group and non-LTCH groupwere compared, and the initial ED variables that affect the in-hospital mortality of the LTCH group were investigated. @*Results@#The total number of patients was 1,032; 423 (41.0 %) were included in the LTCH group. Compared to the non-LTCH group, the following severity indices, some laboratory data, and mortality were worse in the LTCH group: systemicinflammatory reaction syndrome (SIRS) criteria ≥2 (65.0% vs. 56.7%, P=0.008), quick Sequential Organ FailureAssessment score ≥2 (48.2% vs. 20.4%, P<0.001), CURB-65 (Confusion, Urea nitrogen, Respiration rate, Blood pressure,Age≥65 years) criteria ≥3 (51.8% vs. 29.2%, P<0.001), pneumonia severity index (PSI) class ≥4 (86.5% vs.61.2%, P<0.001), modified early warning score ≥5 (38.8% vs. 18.4%, P<0.001), serum albumin (median [IQR], 2.6 [2.2-2.9] g/dL vs. 2.8 [2.4-3.2] g/dL; P<0.001), blood urea nitrogen/albumin (B/A) ratio (median [IQR], 8.0 [5.0-12.8] vs. 6.6[4.4-10.4]; P<0.001), and in-hospital mortality (26.0% vs. 15.9%, P<0.001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed thealbumin grade, B/A ratio grade, PSI class, and SIRS criteria to independently affect the in-hospital mortality of the LTCHgroup. @*Conclusion@#The LTCH group had poorer initial severity indices and higher in-hospital mortality than the non-LTCHgroup. In addition, the albumin grade, B/A ratio grade, could be used for the severity index of pneumonia patients transferredfrom the LTCH.
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Objective@#The diagnostic accuracy of novice residents in evaluating the scrotal pathology by point-of-care (POC) ultrasonography(US) was compared with that by the conventional US to determine the level of experience required toachieve competency. @*Methods@#Three novice residents underwent a one-day training course on identifying scrotal pathologies using POC US.They performed POC US on patients with an acute scrotum to identify five pathological findings. The diagnosis was confirmedby conventional scrotal US. The sensitivity and specificity of POC US by novice residents were calculated, and thechanges in sensitivity and specificity over time were observed. @*Results@#Sixty-two patients were included; the overall sensitivity and specificity were 76.7% (95% confidence interval [CI],61.3%-88.2%) and 78.9% (95% CI, 54.4%-93.9%), respectively. Decreased blood flow in the testicle showed very goodspecificity (100%; 95% CI, 93.8%-100.0%). The sensitivity and accuracy were variable at first 18 scans of each resident,but increased after 18 scans and were maintained over time. @*Conclusion@#Although the diagnostic accuracy of novice residents in evaluating the scrotal pathology using POC US wasvariable at first, the accuracy improved over time, especially after 18 scans of each resident. Nevertheless, larger, longtermresearch is needed to confirm the results of this study.
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Objective@#In Korea, many hospitals have recently changed the process of internal medicine management in the emergencydepartment (ED) because of reduced manpower, raising concerns regarding the decreased quality of medicalcare. The process of medical management in the ED was streamlined to resolve the reduced manpower. Thus, this studycompared the pneumonia treatment effectiveness before and after the process changes. @*Methods@#This study included patients who were diagnosed with pneumonia in the ED and hospitalized from January2014 to December 2016. They were divided into two groups based on before and after the changes. The disease severity,management adequacy, and prognosis were compared using the initial quick sequential organ failure assessmentscore (qSOFA), systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria (SIRS), CURB-65 score, door-to-antibiotic time(DAT), length of stay (LOS), hospitalization period (HP), and in-hospital mortality, were collected retrospectively from themedical records. @*Results@#The qSOFA, SIRS, and CURB-65 scores did not differ between the two groups. The median (interquartilerange) DAT, LOS, and HP were reduced after the process changes: DAT (160.0 minutes [111.0-230.0] vs. 120.0 minutes[74.0-175.0], P<0.001), LOS (7.6 hours [4.8-15.8] vs. 4.7 hours [3.2-6.8], P<0.001), and HP (9.0 days [6.0-16.0] vs. 8.0days [5.0-15.0], P=0.011). On the other hand, the in-hospital mortality was similar in the two groups (14.1% vs. 11.2%,P=0.162). @*Conclusion@#The DAT, LOS, and HP decreased after the process changes, but the in-hospital mortality did not worsen.This shows that pneumonia management in the ED was not compromised, but rather improved, after the changes.
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Objective@#The aim of this study was to investigate the predictor variables that could influence overlap syndrome in functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) among psychiatric patients. @*Methods@#Data collected from 170 outpatients visiting the psychiatric clinic at a university hospital. FGIDs were screened according to the Rome III questionnaire-Korean version. Demographic factors were investigated, and psychosocial factors were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-15, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Korean and the Short form health survey. Chi-squared test, Student’s t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation test were used as statistical analysis methods. @*Results@#There were no differences in the epidemiologic data between the two groups divided according to the FGID status. In those with FGID overlap syndrome, FD-NERD was most common (n=29), followed by IBS-NERD (n=20). Patients with overlap syndrome had the highest depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. The overlap syndrome group had the lowest physical component summary and mental component summary. FGID symptom severity was significantly correlated with PCS and MCS in the overlap syndrome group. @*Conclusion@#Psychological factors are associated with the overlap syndrome of FGID. Acknowledging this common comorbidity may facilitate the recognition and treatment of patients with FGID.
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Objective@#The purpose of this study was to analyze the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and childhood trauma in functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) patients who visited the brain-gut axis clinic. @*Methods@#The study participants included 99 individuals who were diagnosed with FGID by gastroenterologists, 88 individuals who had no FGID but showed symptoms of FGID based on the Rome criteria, and 79 individuals who did not show any symptoms or were diagnosed with FGID. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and childhood trauma were evaluated by the Korean version of Beck-depression inventory-II (K-BDI-II), Korean version of Beck anxiety inventory (K-BAI), and Korean version of childhood trauma questionnaire (K-CTQ), respectively. @*Results@#The BDI score, BAI score, and CTQ score were significantly different between the groups. The group also had higher odds for developing anxiety as compared to the control group (odds ratio [OR] = 10.215, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 2.49−41.76). Additionally, the FGID group had higher odds for developing symptoms of depression (OR = 5.554, 95% CI: 2.06−14.97) and experiencing physical violence (OR = 3.128, 95% CI: 1.53−6.38) than the non-FGID group. @*Conclusion@#This study showed that FGID patients were more likely to have symptoms of depression, severe anxiety, and childhood trauma, which were the risk factors of FGID.
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In the treatment of displaced patella fractures, open reduction and internal fixation is essential for patellofemoral congruency and restoration of the knee extension mechanism. Various surgical techniques and materials can be used, and their clinical outcomes are favorable. However, soft-tissue and skin irritation, pain, and limited range of motion due to metallic hardware can occur, and removal of hardware such as screws and K-wire may be required after bony union. We present a vertical interfragmentary suture technique for patella fractures using sequential compressive tightening with the Nice knot. This knot-tying technique is low profile, provides stable fixation enough to hold displaced fractures, and does not require a secondary procedure for hardware removal.
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BACKGROUND/AIMS: Various foods trigger and/or worsen the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, Korean food-related gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in IBS patients have not yet been investigated. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of self-reported food intolerance in Korean IBS patients and determine the Korean food items and food groups perceived by patients to worsen their GI symptoms. METHODS: We recruited 393 study subjects, comprising 101 IBS patients, 167 symptomatic non-IBS subjects, and 125 control subjects. All participants completed a questionnaire to identify the most problematic foods and assess the occurrence of GI symptoms caused by 119 Korean food items. They also completed the validated Rome III questionnaire for IBS. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported food intolerance in Korean IBS patients was 79.2%, which was significantly higher than that in control subjects (44.8%, P < 0.001). The most problematic foods reported by IBS patients who experienced food intolerance were high-fat foods (25.0%), gluten foods (23.8%), spicy foods (15.0%), and dairy products (15.0%). A total of 63.4% of IBS patients reported GI symptoms related to the consumption of foods high in fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides, and polyols (FODMAP), while 48.5% of IBS patients reported symptoms associated with high-fat foods. Gas problems and loose stools were the most frequently reported symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of Korean IBS patients complained of intolerance to certain food items, with high-fat and high-FODMAP foods being the main triggers. This study provides a basis for planning food intervention studies for Korean IBS patients.