A cone-beam computed tomography study of the prevalence and location of the second mesiobuccal root canal in maxillary molars

Objectives@#This study aimed to investigate the incidence and location of the second mesiobuccal root (MB2) canal in maxillary molars with the aid of various measuring points and lines using cone-beam computed tomography (CT). @*Materials and Methods@#A total of 205 images of patients who underwent cone-beam CT examinations between 2011 and 2015 as part of their dental diagnosis and treatment were included. There were 76 images of the maxillary first molar and 135 images of the maxillary second molar. Canal orifices were detected at −1 mm from the top of the pulpal floor on conebeam CT images. Image assessment was performed by 2 observers in reformatted image planes using software. Assessments included measurement of the distance between the MB1 and MB2 canals, and the angles between the lines connecting the MB1-MB2 and distobuccal (DB)-palatal (P) canals. The data were analyzed using the student's t-test. @*Results@#The prevalence of the MB2 canal was 86.8% in the first molar and 28.9% in the second molar. The angle between the lines connecting the MB1-MB2 and DB-P canals was 2.3° ± 5.7° in the first molar and −3.95° ± 7.73° in the second molar. The distance between the MB1 and MB2 canals was 2.1 ± 0.44 mm in the first molar and 1.98 ± 0.42 mm in the second molar. @*Conclusions@#The angles between the lines connecting the MB1-MB2 and DB-P canals was almost parallel. These findings may aid in the prediction of the location of the MB2 canal orifice.

A cone-beam computed tomography study of the prevalence and location of the second mesiobuccal root canal in maxillary molars

Objectives@#This study aimed to investigate the incidence and location of the second mesiobuccal root (MB2) canal in maxillary molars with the aid of various measuring points and lines using cone-beam computed tomography (CT). @*Materials and Methods@#A total of 205 images of patients who underwent cone-beam CT examinations between 2011 and 2015 as part of their dental diagnosis and treatment were included. There were 76 images of the maxillary first molar and 135 images of the maxillary second molar. Canal orifices were detected at −1 mm from the top of the pulpal floor on conebeam CT images. Image assessment was performed by 2 observers in reformatted image planes using software. Assessments included measurement of the distance between the MB1 and MB2 canals, and the angles between the lines connecting the MB1-MB2 and distobuccal (DB)-palatal (P) canals. The data were analyzed using the student's t-test. @*Results@#The prevalence of the MB2 canal was 86.8% in the first molar and 28.9% in the second molar. The angle between the lines connecting the MB1-MB2 and DB-P canals was 2.3° ± 5.7° in the first molar and −3.95° ± 7.73° in the second molar. The distance between the MB1 and MB2 canals was 2.1 ± 0.44 mm in the first molar and 1.98 ± 0.42 mm in the second molar. @*Conclusions@#The angles between the lines connecting the MB1-MB2 and DB-P canals was almost parallel. These findings may aid in the prediction of the location of the MB2 canal orifice.

Standard First-line Triple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Comparison of Eradication Rates Based on Timing of Administration of Proton Pump Inhibitors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent Korean studies performed over the past few decades have shown diminishing efficacy and unacceptability of clarithromycin-based triple therapy as first-line eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection, based on evidence of a declining eradication rate. Triple therapy continues to be used as first-line eradication therapy despite concerns regarding high clarithromycin resistance among Koreans. Patient compliance and acid suppression are important factors associated with the H. pylori eradication rate. We investigated whether regular administration of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) 30 minutes before a meal can improve the eradication rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 316 patients who were treated with first-line triple therapy (PPI, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin) for H. pylori infection between January 2012 and September 2017. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the time of administration of the PPI (group A: before a meal, group B: after a meal). The urea breath test was performed 4~6 weeks after eradication of infection. RESULTS: Notably, 249 patients (78.8%, 249/316) showed successful eradication. The eradication rates in groups A and B were 87.5% (49/56 patients) and 76.9% (200/260 patients), respectively. We observed that regular administration of PPI before meals improved the eradication rate (P=0.079). CONCLUSIONS: We observed that although clarithromycin-based triple therapy was associated with an overall eradication rate <80%, regular PPI administration before meals improved the eradication rate. Regular PPI administration before meals and effective education to improve patient compliance could improve the eradication rate through maximal acid suppression.

Successful Removal of Endobronchial Lipoma by Flexible Bronchoscopy Using Electrosurgical Snare / 결핵및호흡기질환

A 62-year-old man with a chronic cough presented with atelectasis of the left upper lobe on chest X-ray. Chest computed tomography showed an atelectasis in the left upper lobe with bronchial wall thickening, stenosis, dilatation, and mucoid impaction. We performed bronchoscopy and found a well-circumscribed mass on the left upper lobe bronchus. The mass was removed by flexible bronchoscopy using an electrosurgical snare and diagnosed with lipoma. An endobronchial lipoma is a rare benign tumor that can be treated by a surgical or endoscopic approach. We report the successful removal of endobronchial lipoma via flexible bronchoscopic electrosurgical snare.

Hypothalamic Hypopituitarism Caused by Pituitary Stalk Dysgenesis / 대한내과학회지

Functional defects of the pituitary gland are a rare cause of pubertal delay. The pituitary stalk is an important structure that connects the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. A defect in fusion of the pituitary stalk and anterior pituitary gland will block the function of the anterior pituitary gland. A 28-year-old man was referred to our clinic with poorly developed secondary sexual characteristics. He had undeveloped facial, axillary, and pubic hair and was Tanner stage I. Laboratory tests gave random serum testosterone < 0.025 ng/mL, luteinizing hormone (LH) < 0.1 mIU/mL, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) 0.626 mIU/mL, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) 6.85 microIU/mL, and fT4 6.96 pmol/L. Sella magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed no pituitary stalk enhancement. The response in the combined pituitary function test revealed multiple hormonal defects, while the TSH response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) was exaggerated and delayed. Therefore, we concluded that pituitary stalk dysgenesis had led to hypothalamic-type panhypopituitarism.

Tracheal Stenosis after Tracheostomy Treated Successfully with Papillotome Electrocautery / 결핵및호흡기질환

A 39-year-old woman presented with symptoms of dyspnea. Ten years previously, she had received a tracheostomy because of the decision to not continue taking an anticonvulsant drug. Presently, chest computed tomography showed diffuse stenosis and focal web at the cervical trachea. We performed bronchoscopy and found a two-thirds reduction of the upper trachea due to the web-like fibrotic stenosis. Papillotome electrocautery removed the stenotic lesion. Endobronchial electrocautery is a valuable tool with potential for therapy of an endobronchial obstructing airway lesion. We report this case to introduce the successful treatment with papillotome electrocautery.

Evaluation of the Efficiency of a Computerized Physician Order Entry System Serving Pediatric Patients who Visit the Emergency Ddepartment

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article was to evaluate the efficiency of an automated prescription program serving pediatric patients who visited our emergency department. We expected that the program would reduce pediatric patient prescription errors and shorten the length of stay in the emergency department. METHODS: We developed the computerized physician order entry system to serve the pediatric patients visiting the emergency department and recommended that the emergency medicine residents use this program. We compared the rate of error as it affected prescription dosage and length of stay in the emergency department, before and after the program was deployed. We also performed a survey with 20 emergency medicine residents that have used the program. RESULTS: Of the total number of prescriptions filled, the number of prescription dosing errors observed was 40(4.5%) before and 22(2.8%) after the program was deployed. The results of the survey revealed high system usability and satisfaction. However, the length of stay in the emergency department was not affected. CONCLUSION: The computerized physician order entry system for pediatric patients visiting the emergency department was effective in reducing prescription related medical errors.

A Comparative Study of Clinical Symptoms and Treatment Outcomes of Acute Bacterial Prostatitis According to Urine Culture

PURPOSE: Because acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP) is an urgent condition of the prostate but prostatic massage is contraindicated at the onset of ABP, clinical symptoms and urine tests are used for diagnosis. In this study, we compared the clinical symptoms and treatment outcomes of patients with negative urine culture results, to whom only empirical antibiotics were administered, with those of patients with positive urine culture results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were divided into two groups according to the results of urine culture. Then, the clinical symptoms and course of each group were analyzed. In addition, age, symptoms, antibiotics, mean inpatient and outpatient length of treatment, and the treatment outcome of each group were also analyzed. RESULTS: Of the total 144 patients, the positive urine culture group consisted of 51 patients (35.4%) and the most frequent bacterial strain causing ABP was reported to be Escherichia coli. Fever and storage symptoms were significantly more common in the positive urine culture group than in the negative urine culture group (p=0.031 and 0.047, respectively). Only inpatient treatment was significant longer in the positive urine culture group than in the negative urine culture group (p<0.05). The mean length of treatment of inpatients was 4.8+/-2.6 days and 6.2+/-2.9 days in the two groups, respectively. No sequelae such as prostatic abscess or chronic prostatitis were found in either group. CONCLUSIONS: In the treatment of ABP, the use of empirical antibiotics can be expected to have sufficient effects regardless of bacterial culture. However, it is hard to determine the causative bacteria of ABP by urine culture results only.

The Clinical Effect of Androgen Replacement Therapy for Female Sexual Dysfunction / 이화의대지

OBJECTIVES: Androgen plays an important role in female sexual function, and its insufficiency causes a clinically significant sexual dysfunction. This study examines the association between sex hormones and the clinical effect of testosterone replacement therapy in female sexual dysfunction. METHODS: This study examined 75 female patients who visited our hospital from March 2002 to June 2008 to treat sexual dysfunction. For the rest of the patients, we performed primary treatment and physiotherapy in accordance with the main cause of their sexual dysfunction. We also performed combination treatment of androgen replacement therapy for the patients who did not make medical progress after two months of primary treatment and for the patients whose free testosterone level is in the bottom group out of three normal range groups. RESULTS: The mean age of target patients was 39.6+/-8.7 years (range, 35~66 years) old. 10 patients out of 75 patients were postmenopausal women, and estrogen replacement therapy had been performed without androgen replacement therapy. We performed a combination treatment of androgen replacement therapy for the patients with sexual desire disorder, and 60% of them answered that they had an increased sexual response after they were given combination treatment of androgen replacement therapy. CONCLUSION: The results support the concepts that sex hormones significantly affect sexual response in women with sexual dysfunction. Clinically, it is effective and safe to perform a combination treatment of androgen replacement therapy in treating sexual dysfunction if medication is administered properly and carefully.

Prostate Cancer Metastasis to the Stomach

Prostate cancer commonly manifests with bony metastases. Visceral metastasis can also occur in the lungs and liver. However, stomach metastasis related to prostate cancer is rare. Here, we report a case of prostate cancer metastatic to the stomach. A 66-year-old male was diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma. He was noted as having abdominal discomfort, nausea, and vomiting 18 months after the diagnosis. A histopathologic examination and an esophagogastroduodenoscopic gastric biopsy revealed stomach-metastatic adenocarcinoma. He was also noted as having cerebellar metastatic lesions, which were identified by using a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The patient died of cardiovascular complications 5 months after the diagnosis of stomach metastasis.

M1 Fenestration in a Patient with Multiple Cerebral Arterial Aneurysms: Case Report

The authors report an anomalous fenestration at the M1 portion of the middle cerebral artery found incidentally in a patient affected with a ruptured aneurysm at the ipsilateral internal carotid artery(ICA) and unruptured small aneurysms at the contralateral P1 and ICA. The anomaly was confirmed both angiographically and intraoperatively. A review of the literature indicated several reports of this same anomaly, many of which were associated with aneurysms involving either the proximal end of the fenestration or other cerebral arteries. In the interpretation of cerebral angiograms and during intracranial operations, clinical attention should be paid to this rare anomaly.

Putaminal Hemorrhage Associated with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Case Report

The preferred site of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage(SICH) is the supratentorial area, especially the basal ganglia. Large hematomas frequently spread into the ventricle, and in the case of intraventricular hematomas, varying degrees of fresh blood are found within the subarachnoid space. Cases in which SICH of the basal ganglia ruptures the insular cortex and causes thick subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH) in the basal cisterns, are, however, rare. The authors report a rare case of putaminal SICH with intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH) and SAH in the basal cisterns. This 58-year-old female was stuporous on admission. Neurological examination revealed Glasgow coma scale score 7, left hemiparesis, positive Babinski's sign and neck stiffness. Brain CT showed a large intracerebral hematoma in the right basal ganglion and associated intraventricular hematoma and SAH in the basal cistern. Cerebral angiography demonstrated a small saccular aneurysm at the right M1. Right pterional and trans-sylvian approach revealed thick SAH in the sylvian fissure and a small unruptured aneurysm at the early bifurcation of the middle cerebral artery. The putaminal hematoma had ruptured into the sylvian fissure through a natural opening at the insular cortex between M2 branches. This case illustrates that hypertensive SICH should be included in the differential diagnosis of basal cistern SAH associated with SICH.