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Purpose@#To investigate the relative risks (RRs) for dementia among individuals with glaucoma. @*Methods@#We conducted a search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane databases for observational cohort studies examining the association between glaucoma and dementia until March 2023. Two authors independently screened all titles and abstracts according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Pooled RR and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were generated using random-effect models. @*Results@#The meta-analysis included 18 cohort studies conducted in eight countries and involving 4,975,325 individuals. The pooled RR for the association between glaucoma and all-cause dementia was 1.314 (95% CI, 1.099–1.572; I2 = 95%). The pooled RRs for the associations of open-angle glaucoma with Alzheimer dementia and Parkinson disease were 1.287 (95% CI, 1.007–1.646; I2 = 96%) and 1.233 (95% CI, 0.677–2.243; I2 = 73%), respectively. The pooled RRs for the associations of angle-closure glaucoma with all-cause dementia and Alzheimer dementia were 0.978 (95% CI, 0.750–1.277; I2 = 17%) and 0.838 (95% CI, 0.421–1.669; I2 = 16%), respectively. No evidence of publication bias was detected in the Begg-Mazumdar adjusted rank correlation test (p = 0.47). @*Conclusions@#Based on current observational cohort studies, there is evidence supporting that glaucoma is a risk factor for dementia in the adult population.
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Objective@#To investigate the association between prehospital intravenous (IV) catheter insertion, scene time interval (STI), and fatality in severe trauma patients with hypotension. @*Methods@#This study used a 2018 nationwide emergency medical services (EMS)-based trauma database. Adult severe trauma patients whose injury severity score was above or equal to 16 and whose initial systolic blood pressure was under 90 mmHg were included. Patients were divided into four groups based on whether a prehospital IV catheter was inserted and STI was within 10 minutes-group 1, IV catheter (+) and STI <10 minutes; group 2, IV catheter (+) and STI ≥10 minutes; group 3, IV catheter (-) and STI <10 minutes; and group 4, IV catheter (-) and STI ≥10 minutes. W-score (additional survivor expected for every 100 patients) was used as the outcome index. @*Results@#Among the 30,034 EMS-treated severe trauma patients, 550 patients were analyzed. Group 1 comprised 289 patients (53%), group 2, 159 (29%), group 3, 65 (12%), and group 4, 37 (6.7%). The case fatality rate was 104 (36%) in group 1, 38 (25%) in group 2, 23 (35%) in group 3, and 11 (30%) in group 4. The W-score (95% confidence interval) was 2.42 (2.38 to 2.99) in group 1, 1.89 (1.83 to 2.90) in group 2, -4.62 (-4.70 to -2.94) in group 3, and -5.41 (-5.52 to -3.03) in group 4. @*Conclusion@#Prehospital IV catheter insertion in severe trauma patients with hypotension is beneficial for survival, and the positive effect was prominent when STI was short.
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Purpose@#We report a case of retinopathy related to bilateral hyperviscosity syndrome in a patient with Waldenström macroglobulinemia.Case summary: A 77-year-old male presented with reduced visual acuities of both eyes 2 months in duration. Fundus examination revealed extensive flame-shaped retinal hemorrhages and venous congestion. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) evidenced macular edema and OCT angiography (OCTA) indicated damage to the superficial and deep capillary plexi of retina and choriocapillaris and dilated large choroidal vessels. We diagnosed central retinal vein occlusion with macular edema and prescribed intravitreal bevacizumab and posterior subtenon triamcinolone injections, however, the edema did not improve. As retinopathy associated with hematological disease was thus suspected, we referred the patient to our department of hematology and oncology for further assessment. He was diagnosed with Waldenström macroglobulinemia. After initiation of chemotherapy, the retinal hemorrhage in and macular edema of both eyes decreased. After six chemotherapy cycles, the retinal hemorrhages resolved and the macular edema improved in both eyes. OCTA revealed that the choroidal vessel dilation also improved. @*Conclusions@#In elderly patients presenting with central retinal vein occlusions and macular edema of both eyes, it is important to assess whether the retinopathy is associated with a hyperviscosity syndrome linked to a hematological disease.
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Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a condition characterized by lancinating pain in the tongue, soft palate, and pharynx. This condition can be caused by the combination of traction and compression of the glossopharyngeal nerve by tortuous vertebral and posterior inferior cerebellar arteries, which tug down and exert pressure on the nerve. Medical treatments including carbamazepine and gabapentin have been found to effectively manage glossopharyngeal neuralgia, even in cases with overt compression and traction of the nerve.
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Odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) located in the maxillae have rarely been reported in the literature. Standard treatment modalities for OKC range from marsupialization to marginal resection. However, most of the studies on OKC treatment have been related to mandibular OKCs. The anatomical structure and loose bone density of the maxillae and the empty space of the maxillary sinus could allow rapid growth of a lesion and the ability to tolerate tumor occupancy in the entire maxilla within a short period of time. Therefore, OKCs of the maxillae require more aggressive surgery, such as resection. As an alternative, this report introduces a modified Carnoy’s solution, a strong acid, as an adjuvant chemotherapy after cyst enucleation. This report describes the clinical outcomes of enucleation using a modified Carnoy’s solution in patients with large OKCs on the posterior maxillae. In three cases, application of a modified Carnoy’s solution had few side effects or morbidity. Each patient was followed for four to six years, and none showed any signs of recurrence. In conclusion, adjuvant treatment with a modified Carnoy’s solution can be considered a treatment option capable of reducing the recurrence rate of OKC in the maxillae.
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Background@#and Purpose Moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe versus high-intensity statin alone may provide a greater low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction in patients with recent ischemic stroke. @*Methods@#This randomized, open-label, controlled trial assigned patients with recent ischemic stroke <90 days to rosuvastatin/ezetimibe 10/10 mg once daily (ROS10/EZT10) or to rosuvastatin 20 mg once daily (ROS20). The primary endpoint was LDL-C reduction ≥50% from baseline at 90 days. Key secondary endpoints were LDL-C <70 mg/dL and multiple lipid goal achievement, and composite of major vascular events. @*Results@#Of 584 randomized, 530 were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. The baseline LDL-C level was 130.2±34.7 mg/dL in the ROS10/EZT10 group and 131.0±33.9 mg/dL in the ROS20 group. The primary endpoint was achieved in 198 patients (72.5%) in the ROS10/EZT10 group and 148 (57.6%) in the ROS20 group (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 1.944 [1.352–2.795]; P= 0.0003). LDL-C level <70 mg/dL was achieved in 80.2% and 65.4% in the ROS10/EZT10 and ROS20 groups (P=0.0001). Multiple lipid goal achievement rate was 71.1% and 53.7% in the ROS10/EZT10 and ROS20 groups (P<0.0001). Major vascular events occurred in 1 patient in the ROS10/EZT10 group and 9 in the ROS20 group (P=0.0091). The adverse event rates did not differ between the two groups. @*Conclusion@#Moderate-intensity rosuvastatin plus ezetimibe was superior to high-intensity rosuvastatin alone for intensive LDL-C reduction in patients with recent ischemic stroke. With the combination therapy, more than 70% of patients achieved LDL-C reduction ≥50% and 80% had an LDL-C <70 mg/dL at 90 days.
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Background/Aims@#It remains unclear which maintenance treatment modality is most appropriate for mild gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).We aimed to compare on-demand treatment with continuous treatment using a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in the maintenance treatment for patients with non-erosive GERD or mild erosive esophagitis. @*Methods@#Patients whose GERD symptoms improved after 4 weeks of standard dose PPI treatment were prospectively enrolled at 25 hospitals.Subsequently, the enrolled patients were randomly assigned to either an on-demand or a continuous maintenance treatment group, and followed in an 8-week interval for up to 24 weeks. @*Results@#A total of 304 patients were randomized to maintenance treatment (continuous, n = 151 vs on-demand, n = 153). The primary outcome, the overall proportion of unwillingness to continue the assigned maintenance treatment modality, failed to confirm the noninferiority of on-demand treatment (45.9%) compared to continuous treatment (36.1%). Compared with the on-demand group, the GERD symptom and health-related quality of life scores significantly more improved and the overall satisfaction score was significantly higher in the continuous treatment group, particularly at week 8 and week 16 of maintenance treatment. Work impairment scores were not different in the 2 groups, but the prescription cost was less in the on-demand group. Serum gastrin levels significantly elevated in the continuous treatment group, but not in the on-demand group. @*Conclusions@#Continuous treatment seems to be more appropriate for the initial maintenance treatment of non-erosive GERD or mild erosive esophagitis than on-demand treatment. Stepping down to on-demand treatment needs to be considered after a sufficient period of continuous treatment.
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Background@#This study aimed to investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) system in South Korea. The study focused on the differences in EMS time intervals following the COVID-19 outbreak, particularly for patients with fever. @*Methods@#A retrospective analysis of EMS patient transportation data from 2017 to 2022 was conducted using the national EMS database. @*Results@#Starting from the year 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 outbreak, all EMS time intervals experienced an increase. For the years 2017 to 2022, the mean response time interval values were 8.6, 8.6, 8.6, 10.2, 12.8, and 11.4 minutes, and the mean scene time interval values were 7.1, 7.2, 7.4, 9.0, 9.8, and 10.9 minutes. The mean transport time interval (TTI) values were 12.1, 12.3, 12.4, 14.2, 16.9, and 16.2 minutes, and the mean turnaround time interval values were 27.6, 27.9, 28.7, 35.2, 42.0, and 43.1 minutes. Fever (≥ 37.5°C) patients experienced more pronounced prolongations in EMS time intervals compared to non-fever patients and had a higher probability of being non-transported. The mean differences in TTI between fever and non-fever patients were 0.8, 0.8, 0.8, 4.3, 4.8, and 3.2 minutes, respectively, from 2017 to 2022. Furthermore, the odds ratios for fever patients being transported to the emergency department were 2.7, 2.9, 2.8, 1.1, 0.8, and 0.7, respectively, from 2017 to 2022. @*Conclusion@#The study findings highlight the significant impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the EMS system and emphasize the importance of ongoing monitoring to evaluate the burden on the EMS system.
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Background@#and Purpose The congestive heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes, previous stroke/transient ischemic attack (CHA2DS2-VASc) and hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio, elderly, drugs/alcohol (HAS-BLED) scores have been validated in estimating the risks of ischemic stroke and major bleeding, respectively, in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study investigated stroke-specific predictors of major bleeding in patients with stroke and AF who were taking oral anticoagulants (OACs). @*Methods@#Subjects were selected from patients enrolled in the Korean ATrial fibrillaTion EvaluatioN regisTry in Ischemic strOke patieNts (K-ATTENTION) nationwide multicenter registry between 2013 and 2015. Patients were excluded if they were not taking OACs, had no brain imaging data, or had intracranial bleeding directly related to the index stroke. Major bleeding was defined according to International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis criteria. Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between clinical variables and major bleeding and Kaplan-Meier estimates were performed to analyze event-free survival. @*Results@#Of a total of 3,213 patients, 1,414 subjects (mean age of 72.6 years, 52.5% males) were enrolled in this study. Major bleeding was reported in 34 patients during the median follow-up period of 1.73 years. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores (hazard ratio [HR] 1.07, p=0.006), hypertension (HR 3.18, p=0.030), persistent AF type (HR 2.51, p=0.016), and initial hemoglobin level (HR 0.74, p=0.001) were independently associated with major bleeding risk. Except for hypertension, these associations remained significant after adjusting for the HAS-BLED score. Intracranial atherosclerosis presented a trend of association without statistical significance (HR 2.21, p=0.050). @*Conclusions@#This study found that major bleeding risk was independently associated with stroke-specific factors in anticoagulated patients with stroke and AF. This has the clinical implication that baseline characteristics of patients with stroke and AF should be considered in secondary prevention, which would bring the net clinical benefit of balancing recurrent stroke prevention with minimal bleeding complications.
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This study explores the internal standards for hearing tests and benefits of implementing international standard protocols, including the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and discusses how ISO and IEC standards provide a framework for designing, calibrating, assessing hearing test instruments and methods, and exchanging and comparing data globally. ISO and IEC standards for hearing tests improve accuracy, reliability, and consistency of test results by applying standardized methods and environments. Moreover, they promote international harmonization and data interoperability, enabling information exchange and research collaboration. Those standards for hearing tests are beneficial but have challenges and limitations, such as variation in equipment and calibration, lag in updating standards, variation in implementation and compliance, and lack of coverage of clinical aspects, cultural diversity, and linguistic diversity. These affect the quality and interpretation of test results. Adapting ISO or IEC standards locally would improve their applicability and acceptability, while balancing customization and compatibility with global standards.
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Background/Aims@#Tegoprazan, a new, fast, and strong potassium-competitive acid blocker, has been approved for the treatment of gastric acid-related diseases in Korea. However, realworld clinical data regarding this drug are scarce. We aimed to compare the Helicobacter pylori eradication rates of tegoprazan- and rabeprazole-based triple therapy. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed data from patients who received first-line treatment for H. pylori infection using tegoprazan- or rabeprazole-based triple therapy for 2 weeks (50 mg tegoprazan or 20 mg rabeprazole+1,000 mg amoxicillin+500 mg clarithromycin twice daily). The primary endpoint was the eradication rate as determined by intention-to-treat analysis. @*Results@#Of the 677 patients included in our study, 344 and 333 received tegoprazan-based and rabeprazole-based triple therapy, respectively. The eradication rate from intention-to-treat analysis was 76.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 72.1% to 81.0%) for tegoprazan-based triple therapy and 75.4% (95% CI, 70.5% to 79.8%) for rabeprazole-based triple therapy. There was no significant difference in the eradication rates between the two groups (p>0.999). Per-protocol analysis also revealed no significant difference between the eradication rates of the two groups (tegoprazan 83.4% [95% CI, 79.0% to 87.2%] vs rabeprazole 83.5% [79.0% to 87.4%], p>0.999).Furthermore, there was no significant difference in adverse event rates between the two groups (tegoprazan, 27.6%; rabeprazole, 25.8%; p=0.604). @*Conclusions@#The eradication rate of tegoprazan-based triple therapy was similar to that of rabeprazole-based triple therapy. Further studies on the dose-escalation effect of tegoprazan for H. pylori eradication and the efficacy of tegoprazan in regimens other than conventional triple therapy are needed.
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Innate immunity is a first line defence system in the body which is for sensing signals of danger such as pathogenic microbes or host-derived signals of cellular stress. Pattern recognition receptors (PRR’s), which present in the cell memebrane, are suspect the infection through pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP), and activate innate immunity with response to promote inflammation via inflammatory cells such as macrophages and neutrophils, and cytokines. Inflammasome are protein complexes which are part of innate immunity in inflammation to remove pathogens and repair damaged tissues. What is the important role of inflammation in disease? In this review, we are focused on the action mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome in inflammatory diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, and sepsis.
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Maintaining the patency of the external auditory canal (EAC) during reconstruction is important because of its physiological role in hearing and immunological protective functions. The curved shape of the EAC presents a challenge when performing a skin graft. One of the key points for a successful skin graft is to ensure compression on the wound bed, and many novel methods, including prefabricated ear molds, have been reported for this purpose. In this study, we present a case of a skin graft performed to reconstruct a skin defect following excision of actinic keratosis in the EAC, using the cover of an ear thermometer probe as a mold for the graft to match the curvature of the EAC. This is an economical and practical method for secure compression dressing of a skin graft in the EAC.
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Purpose@#Sepsis is one of the most common causes of death after surgery. Several conventional scoring systems have been developed to predict the outcome of sepsis; however, their predictive power is insufficient. The present study applies explainable machine-learning algorithms to improve the accuracy of predicting postoperative mortality in patients with sepsis caused by peritonitis. @*Methods@#We performed a retrospective analysis of data from demographic, clinical, and laboratory analyses, including the delta neutrophil index (DNI), WBC and neutrophil counts, and CRP level. Laboratory data were measured before surgery, 12–36 hours after surgery, and 60–84 hours after surgery. The primary study output was the probability of mortality.The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of several machine-learning algorithms using the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) 3 models were compared.‘SHapley Additive exPlanations’ values were used to indicate the direction of the relationship between a variable and mortality. @*Results@#The CatBoost model yielded the highest AUC (0.933) for mortality compared to SAPS3 and SOFA (0.860 and 0.867, respectively). Increased DNI on day 3, septic shock, use of norepinephrine therapy, and increased international normalized ratio on day 3 had the greatest impact on the model’s prediction of mortality. @*Conclusion@#Machine-learning algorithms increase the accuracy of predicting postoperative mortality in patients with sepsis caused by peritonitis.
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We report a case about successful surgical treatment of a granular cell tumor in the ascending colon. A 36-year-old man underwent screening colonoscopy. An endoscopic examination revealed a 10-mm yellowish and hemispheric mass in the ascending colon, and lower endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic-to-isoechoic mass invaded the submucosal layer. The mass was suspected to be a colonic carcinoid tumor. Based on the preoperative evaluation, endoscopic complete resection was considered difficult. Therefore, the lesion was removed via laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. Histological examination revealed that the tumor consisted of nests of polygonal cells with abundant granular eosinophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemical staining revealed diffuse positivity for S100 and CD68. Therefore, the tumor was diagnosed as a granular cell tumor. We suggest that surgical resection should be considered if it is located in the thin-walled ascending colon prone to perforation, difficult to rule out malignant tumor due to submucosal invasion, or to remove endoscopically.
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Purpose@#The awareness time interval (ATI), the time from the witnessed event to emergency medical service (EMS) activation, is an important factor influencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes. Since bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BCPR) is provided after cardiac arrest is recognized, the effect of BCPR may vary depending on ATI delay. We aimed to investigate whether ATI modifies the effect of BCPR on OHCA outcomes. @*Materials and Methods@#A population-based observational study was conducted with EMS-treated witnessed adult (≥18 years) OHCAs between 2013 and 2018. The exposure variable was provision of BCPR. The primary outcome was a good neurological outcome defined as cerebral performance category scale 1or 2 (good CPC). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted using the ATI group (–1, 1–5, 5– min) as the interaction term. @*Results@#Of 34366 eligible OHCAs, 65.5% received BCPR. EMS was activated within 1 min in 45.9%, within 1–5 min in 29.2%, and after 5 min in 24.9% cases. In the adjusted interaction model, compared with no BCPR, a longer ATI resulted in smaller adjusted odds ratios for good CPC in the BCPR group [5.33 (4.17–6.82) for ATI ≤1 min, 5.14 (4.00–6.60) for 1–5 min, and 2.14 (1.63–2.81) for ATI >5 min]. @*Conclusion@#The effect of BCPR on improving the chances for a good neurological outcome decreased as time from collapse to EMS activation increased. The importance of early recognition of OHCA and EMS activation should be emphasized in BCPR training.
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Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to determine whether deoxyhemoglobin changes were associated with admission duration in carbon monoxide (CO)-poisoned patients. @*Methods@#This retrospective study included 181 patients who were able to breathe by themselves after CO poisoning. Arterial blood gas analysis was performed to measure their deoxyhemoglobin levels. Their baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes during hospitalization in the emergency department (ED) were collected and compared. To assess changes in deoxyhemoglobin levels, blood samples were taken immediately after patients presented to the ED and then again after 6 hours. For statistical analysis, logistic regression was utilized to determine the effect of deoxyhemoglobin changes on admission duration. @*Results@#The incidence rates of hypocapnia and hypoxemia at presentation after acute CO poisoning were 28.7% and 43.6%, respectively. Moreover, the magnitude of increasing deoxyhemoglobin levels in patients with hypoxemia (2.1 [1.7–3.1], p<0.001) and changes in deoxyhemoglobin levels appeared to have an impact on the length of hospitalization in the ED (odds ratio, 1.722; 95% confidence interval, 0.547–0.952; p<0.001). @*Conclusion@#In patients with acute CO poisoning, deoxyhemoglobin levels appeared to increase in those with hypoxemia, which in turn was associated with prolonged hospitalization.
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Autogenous bone grafts from the mandibular ramus are a known source of inadequate bone volume scenarios of the residual alveolar ridge. However, the conventional block-type harvesting technique cannot prevent bone marrow invasion, which can cause postoperative complications such as pain, swelling, and inferior alveolar nerve injury. This study aims to suggest a complication-free harvesting technique and present the results of bone grafting and donor sites. One patient received two dental implants with a complication-free harvesting technique that involves creation of ditching holes with a 1 mm round bur. Sagittal, coronal, and axial osteotomies produced grid-type cortical squares using a micro-saw and a round bur to confirm the cortical thickness. The grid-type cortical bone was harvested from the occlusal aspect, and the harvesting was extended through an additional osteotomy on the exposed and remaining cortical bone to prevent bone marrow invasion. The patient did not suffer postoperative severe pain, swelling, or numbness.After 15 months, the harvested site exhibited new cortical bone lining, and the grafted area had healed to a cortico-cancellous complex with functional loading of the implants. Our technique, grid-type cortical bone harvesting without bone marrow invasion, allowed application of autogenous bone without bone marrow invasion to achieve acceptable bone healing of the dental implants and to regenerate the harvested cortical bone.
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We assessed the risk factors for major amputation of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) stages 3b–5. For DFU assessment, in addition to DFU location and presence of infection, ischemia, and neuropathy, vascular calcification was assessed using the medial arterial calcification (MAC) score. Of 210 patients, 26 (12.4%) underwent major amputations. Only the location and extension of DFU, represented by Texas grade differed between the minor and major amputation groups. However, after adjusting for covariates, ulcer location of mid- or hindfoot (vs. forefoot, odds ratio [OR] = 3.27), Texas grades 2 or 3 (vs. grade 0, OR = 5.78), and severe MAC (vs. no MAC, OR = 4.46) was an independent risk factor for major amputation (all P < 0.05). The current use of antiplatelets was a possible protective factor for major amputations (OR = 0.37, P = 0.055). In conclusion, DFU with severe MAC is associated with major amputation in patients with DKD.
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Background@#In this study, we prepared and evaluated an injectable poloxamer (P407) hydrogel formulation for intratympanic (IT) delivery of dexamethasone (DEX). @*Methods@#DEX-loaded P407 hydrogels were characterized in terms of thermogelation, drug loading capacities, particle size, and drug release. The in vivo toxicity and drug absorption of the DEX-loaded P407 formulation after IT injection were evaluated using an animal model by performing histopathological analysis and drug concentration measurements. @*Results@#The P407 hydrogel effectively solubilized hydrophobic DEX and demonstrated a sustained release compared to the hydrophilic DEX formulation. The in vivo study showed that the hydrogel formulation delivered considerable drug concentrations to the inner ear and displayed a favorable safety profile without apparent cytotoxicity or inflammation. @*Conclusion@#P407 hydrogel can be useful as an injectable inner ear delivery formulation for hydrophobic drugs due to their biocompatibility, drug-solubilizing capacity, thermogelation, and controlled release.