A Comparative Analysis of Endoscopic Versus Conventional Open Thyroidectomy in the Treatment of Papillary Thyroid Cancer According to Preoperative Risk Stratification / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: It is well known that papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has a good prognosis and high incidence in young women. The objective of the study was to review our criteria to select surgical modality and surgical results and to confirm the feasibility of endoscopic thyroidectomy according to the preoperative risk stratification in the treatment of papillary thyroid cancer. METHODS: Between May 2009 and April 2012, 197 patients underwent either a conventional open or an endoscopic thyroidectomy with the preoperative consideration of risk group using clinical parameters of AMES system (patient age, size of tumor, extrathyroid extension, and presence of distant metastasis). A retrospective analysis of the pathologic data according to AMES system after surgery was also conducted. The endoscopic thyroidectomy was performed using the BABA (bilateral axillo-breast approach) method. RESULTS: Based on the method of operation, the low-risk group patients (n=197) were divided into two groups: endoscopic group (n=78) and open group (n=119). Procedure time, postoperative complication rates, and length of hospital stay were tracked, albeit these were not significantly different between the two groups. From the pathologic findings, it was reported that there were no significant differences in tumor size, extrathyroid extension, and metastasis and also in the Off T4 – thyroglobulin level between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic thyroidectomy is a feasible method for the treatment of selected cases of thyroid cancer such as low-risk group according to the appropriate preoperative risk stratification.

Preventive Effects of Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis var. Assamica) on Diabetic Nephropathy

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the preventive effects of Camellia sinensis var. assamica (CSVA) on diabetic nephropathy in in vitro and in vivo models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MDCK cells were incubated with 1 mM of oxalate with or without different concentrations of CSVA, then MTT and malondialdehyde (MDA) assays were performed to investigate the preventive effects of CSVA on oxalate-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress. Thirty male db/db mice were divided into three groups. Group 1 were fed AIN-93G ad libitum; group 2 were fed AIN-93G mixed with 10% fermented CSVA ad libitum; group 3 were fed AIN-93G mixed with 10% non-fermented CSVA ad libitum. The mice were sacrificed 14 weeks later, and the serum glucose level, 24-hour urine chemistry, and morphological changes in the kidneys were examined. RESULTS: As CSVA concentrations increased, viable MDCK cells increased in concentration. MDA production decreased over time in the CSVA treated group. The creatinine clearance of group 3 was lower than those of groups 1 and 2. The amount of urine microalbumin and protein in group 1 were higher than those in groups 2 and 3. Also, more glomerulus basement membrane foot processes were preserved in groups 2 and 3. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, CSVA has beneficial preventive tendencies towards diabetic nephropathy in both in vitro and in vivo models.

Student's Response to Current Lecture Evaluation Method in One Medical School / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: The evaluation of a lecture by students is one of the good way to improve a lecture. In one medical school, we started one-year-integrated-lecture curriculum for sophomore. And we evaluated lectures using formal lecture evaluation sheet after completion of each integrated lectures. The results were fed back to lecturers. But lecturers were indifferent to the results. So we performed this study to evaluate the current lecture evaluation method. METHODS: Answering patterns of evaluation sheets were reviewed. 50 students entitled to integrated lectures were given structured questions. 44 of them recovered. And randomly selected 10 students were interviewed. RESULTS: Analysis of evaluation sheets showed that some students checked the items just for fun. More than half of the students answered that they did not check the questions seriously. Reasons why the evaluation of lectures were not going well were; students were not trained to evaluate something; evaluation sheet was not designed to evaluate individual lecturer; listed items were too many in number and inappropriate; some students were suspicious about the impact of evaluation of lectures. In addition to this, it was revealed that students thought the timing of evaluation of lecture was important, too. CONCLUSION: Indifference of lecturers to the results is one form of resistance to the evaluation of lectures by students. To make evaluation of lectures effective, numbers and contents of evaluation items must be selected carefully, students need to be trained, and adequate evaluation timing should be determined with frequent feed backs.