Effect of Herpes Zoster Treatment and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Using National Health Insurance Claims Data of South Korea.

: Herpes zoster (HZ) is caused by the reactivation of a pre-existing latent varicella zoster virus, which is one of the viruses that causes hearing loss, and hearing loss may occur due to a systemic immune response even if it does not invade the auditory nerve. This study aimed to determine the correlation between sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in older adult patients who received HZ treatment. : We used the cohort data of patients aged 60 years and above ( = 624,646) between 2002 and 2015 provided by the National Health Insurance Service.

Interfacial Capillary Spooling of Conductive Polyurethane-Silver Core-Sheath (PU@Ag) Microfibers for Highly Stretchable Interconnects.

Conductive fibers are core materials in textile electronics for the sustainable operation of devices under mechanical stimuli. Conventional polymer-metal core-sheath fibers were employed as stretchable electrical interconnects. However, their electrical conductivity is severely degraded by the rupture of metal sheaths at low strains.

Horticultural Therapy for Improving the Work Performance and Interpersonal Relationships of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities.

For the occupational adaptation and social integration of the intellectually disabled, it is helpful to improve their work performance and interpersonal skills. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of horticultural therapy (HT) programs to improve work performance and interpersonal relationships of persons with intellectual disabilities. Based on observations and analyses of how people with intellectual disabilities work, we have developed a 12-session HT program that includes upper limb movements and physical activities to improve hand function.

Impact of age on the incidence of complications after liver transplantation: A single-center retrospective study.

Background And Objective: Advances in surgical technique, postoperative management, and immunosuppressive therapy have led to a steady increase in the number of patients undergoing organ transplantation. This study aimed to compare the incidence of postoperative complications between young and elderly patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) at a single university hospital.

Method: The medical records of 253 patients who underwent LT between January 2010 and July 2017 were retrospectively reviewed.

Genetic characteristics of Korean Jeju Black cattle with high density single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Objective: Conservation and genetic improvement of cattle breeds require information about genetic diversity and population structure of the cattle. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of the three cattle breeds in the Korean peninsula.

Methods: Jeju Black, Hanwoo, Holstein cattle in Korea, together with six foreign breeds were examined.

Liver Transplant Patients with High Preoperative Serum Bilirubin Levels Are at Increased Risk of Postoperative Delirium: A Retrospective Study.

Postoperative delirium is a common complication after liver transplantation (LT). A high model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is an independent risk factor for postoperative delirium, but it is unclear which of the components of this score are risk indicators. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of postoperative delirium according to the preoperative serum bilirubin level, a component of the MELD score, in patients who underwent LT.

Device-Related Error in Patient-Controlled Analgesia: Analysis of 82,698 Patients in a Tertiary Hospital.

Background: Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is one of the most popular and effective methods for managing postoperative pain. Various types of continuous infusion pumps are available for the safe and accurate administration of analgesic drugs. Here we report the causes and clinical outcomes of device-related errors in PCA.

Differential circulating and visceral fat microRNA expression of non-obese and obese subjects.

Background & Aims: Altered microRNA (miRNA) expression is associated with the pathophysiology of obesity; however, little is known about the miRNAs commonly dysregulated in the blood and visceral fat tissue of obese patients. This study compared the circulating and visceral fat miRNA expression in subjects with and without obesity.

Methods: For the circulating miRNA study, 20 healthy control and 30 obese subjects were recruited.

Inhaled nitric oxide therapy was not associated with postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing lung transplantation: A retrospective pilot study.

Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) therapy is commonly used in lung transplantation (LT) recipients during the perioperative periods. However, previous studies report that the use of iNO may increase the risk of renal dysfunction. Post-LT acute kidney injury (AKI) can lead to critical situations, including prolonged intensive care unit or hospital stays and increased morbidity and mortality.

Pulmonary aspiration during intubation in a high-risk patient: A video clip and clinical implications.

We report a case of pulmonary aspiration during induction of general anesthesia in a patient who was status post esophagectomy. Sudden, unexpected aspiration occurred even though the patient had fasted adequately (over 13 hours) and received rapid sequence anesthesia induction. Since during esophagectomy, the lower esophageal sphincter is excised, stomach vagal innervation is lost, and the stomach is flaccid, draining only by gravity, the patient becomes vulnerable to aspiration.

Severe postoperative dyspnea caused by neglected massive intraperitoneal fluid collection during laser enucleation and morcellation of the prostate: a case report.

Laser enucleation and morcellation of the prostate is an increasingly used surgical management of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, it can cause several complications including capsular perforation, ureteral orifice injury, and bladder mucosal morcellation injury. Herein, we report a case of severe postoperative dyspnea caused by neglected massive intraperitoneal fluid collection during laser surgery of the prostate.

Preoperative hypoalbuminemia and anemia as predictors of transfusion in radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma: a retrospective study.

Background: The only curative therapy for renal cell carcinoma is the complete removal of malignant tissue. Surgical bleeding during radical nephrectomy may require blood transfusion. Blood transfusion, however, is associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Preoperative hypoalbuminemia is a major risk factor for acute kidney injury following off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

Purpose: To investigate the association between preoperative low serum albumin level and acute kidney injury (AKI) after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB) METHOD: We assessed preoperative and perioperative risk factors, and preoperative serum albumin concentration in 1,182 consecutive adult patients with preoperative normal renal function who underwent OPCAB surgery. Each patient was categorized by maximal Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria based on creatinine changes within the first 48 h after OPCAB. Logistic regression and propensity analyses were performed to evaluate the association between preoperative low serum albumin level and postoperative AKI.

Prognostic implications of preoperative E/e' ratio in patients with off-pump coronary artery surgery.

Background: The ratio of early transmitral flow velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E/e') correlates with left ventricular (LV) filling pressure. In particular, an E/e' ratio more than 15 is an excellent predictor of increased LV filling pressure. The authors evaluated the prognostic implications of preoperative estimated LV filling pressure, assessed by E/e' ratio, in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

The prophylactic use of recombinant factor VIIa in a patient with DeBakey type III aortic dissection -A case report-.

Little is known about the prophylactic use of recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) in patients undergoing surgery for a bleeding aorta employing cardiopulmonary bypass. We report the successful use of rFVIIa in a patient undergoing hypothermic circulatory arrest and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass for repair of a DeBakey type III aortic dissection.

Preoperative treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker has no beneficial effect on the development of new-onset atrial fibrillation after off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: The present study investigated whether preoperative angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) use affected the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCAB).

Hypothesis: Preoperative use of ACEI or ARB was related to POAF in patients undergoing OPCAB.

Methods: This retrospective, observational, cohort study involved 1050 patients who underwent OPCAB from January 2006 to December 2009.

Temporary bilateral sensorineural hearing loss following cardiopulmonary bypass -A case report-.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss has been reported to occur following anesthesia and various non-otologic surgeries, mostly after procedures involving cardiopulmonary bypass. Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss resulting from microembolism is an infrequent complication of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery that has long been acknowledged. Moreover, there are few reports on the occurrence of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss without other neurologic deficits and its etiology has also not been determined.

Anesthetic considerations of percutaneous transcatheter aortic valve implantation: first attempt in Korea -A report of 2 cases-.

Conventional aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis is associated with a high operative mortality in the elderly patients with significant comorbidities, including severe respiratory dysfunction, renal insufficiency, and compromised cardiac function. Human transcatheter aortic valve implantation was first reported in 2002 and has become a valid alternative in selected high-risk patients in Europe and North America. This article describes the first attempt of transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation in Korea.

Effects of propofol and etomidate on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage in hepatocyte.

Background: The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of propofol and etomidate against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced oxidative damage in human hepatic SNU761 cells by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).

Methods: The cell line of human hepatocellular carcinoma was grown for 24 hours in dissociated cell culture. They were divided into eight groups: negative control (NC) group with no drug administration, positive control (PC) group with H2O2 250 micrometer and other groups pretreated with propofol (P; 1, 10, 50 micrometer) or etomidate (ET; 1, 10, 50 micrometer) followed H2O2 administration.