Fluorescence imaging, an emerging tool for preserving the parathyroid glands during thyroidectomy.

With vocal cord palsy, hypoparathyroidism is one of the two major complications after thyroid surgery. Traditional approaches to preserving the parathyroid glands during thyroid surgery include identifying the glands precisely and preserving their vasculature with the naked eye, which mainly depend on the experience and skill of the surgeon. Recently, a relatively new technique, fluorescence image-guided surgery, has been widely researched and is becoming increasingly popular.

A Comparison of the Bilateral Axillo-breast Approach (BABA) Robotic and Open Thyroidectomy for Papillary Thyroid Cancer After Propensity Score Matching.

Background: We aimed to investigate the potential advantages of bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) robotic thyroidectomy over conventional open surgery and to determine whether it is a safe and complete surgical procedure compared with open surgery in patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 315 consecutive patients (robotic, n=54; open, n=261) who underwent total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection for papillary thyroid cancer from March 2013 to June 2014. Postoperative complication rate and surgical completeness were analyzed between patients who underwent BABA robotic thyroidectomy (robotic group) and those who chose open thyroidectomy (open group) after propensity score matching according to age, sex, body mass index, tumor size, extrathyroidal extension, and lymph node (LN) metastasis.

Minimal extrathyroidal extension is associated with lymph node metastasis in single papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a retrospective analysis of 814 patients.

Background: Extrathyroidal extension (ETE) is considered a major prognostic factor in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Patients with gross ETE are at increased risk of recurrence and mortality. The importance of minimal ETE still remains controversial, especially in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).

Impact and prognosis of lung cancer in patients with combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema.

Background: Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is frequently associated with lung cancer. However, the impact and outcomes of lung cancer in patients with CPFE are unclear.

Objective: We investigated the impact of lung cancer in patients with CPFE in terms of acute exacerbation (AE) and mortality, and identified the mortality predictors of patients with CPFE and lung cancer.

Assessment of Korean rice lines for their reaction to rice yellow mottle virus in Ghana.

Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) is the most damaging viral disease of rice in Africa and can cause yield losses of up to 100%. The objective of this study was to characterize newly introduced rice lines from Korea into Ghana for their reaction to RYMV infection. One hundred and seventy-two rice lines from Korea were screened for their level of resistance RYMV in a screen house at Fumesua, Ghana.

Weight change in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma after total thyroidectomy versus lobectomy.

Purpose: Thyroid hormone is an important hormone in maintaining metabolism and homeostasis in the body. There exists a common perception among patients that thyroid surgery will cause weight gain. Prevention of any undesired weight gain could be important for the maintenance of well-being in most patients.

The association between blood eosinophil percent and bacterial infection in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The use of antibiotics is based on the clinician's experience and judgment, and antibiotics may often be overused in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Eosinophils have been studied as biomarkers of bacterial infection and prognostic factors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and AECOPD. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine whether eosinophils could be used to determine bacterial infection in AECOPD events.

Robotic Thyroidectomy Decreases Postoperative Pain Compared With Conventional Thyroidectomy.

Background: This retrospective study compared postoperative pain between patients undergoing open thyroidectomy (OT) and bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) robotic thyroidectomy (RT).

Materials And Methods: We analyzed the electronic medical records of 1269 patients who underwent OT or RT at Chung-Ang University Hospital between January 1, 2010 and April 30, 2016. On the basis of the surgical procedure performed, patients were categorized into an OT (n=1128) and a BABA RT (BRT) group (n=141).

Comparison of robot-assisted modified radical neck dissection using a bilateral axillary breast approach with a conventional open procedure after propensity score matching.

Background: There is ongoing debate about whether or not robot-assisted thyroidectomy is appropriate for modified radical neck dissection (MRND). The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of robot-assisted MRND with those of a conventional open procedure.

Methods: One hundred and forty-five patients who underwent total thyroidectomy, bilateral central neck dissection, and MRND (robotic, n = 28; open, n = 117) at our institution from June 2011 to June 2015 were enrolled in the study.

The value of glycated hemoglobin as predictor of organ dysfunction in patients with sepsis.

Background: In patients with sepsis, an inflammatory response can lead to destruction of the glycocalyx. These alterations cause the progression of organ dysfunction. Destruction of the glycocalyx can also occur in chronic hyperglycemia.

The association between living below the relative poverty line and the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Because poverty is a multifaceted concept with a complex definition, this concept may not be useful when formulating economic policy. Thus, most governments use the relative poverty line to identify poor participants who may receive economic support. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between living below the relative poverty line and the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Four-Weekly Docetaxel as First-Line Therapy in Elderly Lung Cancer Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Docetaxel is one of the standard treatments for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Docetaxel is usually administered in a 3-week schedule, but there is significant toxicity. In this phase II clinical study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of a 4-weekly schedule of docetaxel monotherapy, as first-line chemotherapy for advanced squamous cell carcinoma in elderly lung cancer patients.

Bacterial and Viral Identification Rate in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Korea.

Purpose: The most common cause of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is respiratory infection. Most studies of bacterial or viral cause in AECOPD have been conducted in Western countries. We investigated bacterial and viral identification rates in AECOPD in Korea.

Decreased serum club cell secretory protein in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap: a pilot study.

Purpose: Improvement in the diagnosis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO), and identification of biomarkers for phenotype recognition will encourage good patient care by providing optimal therapy. We investigated club cell secretory protein (CC-16), a protective and anti-inflammatory mediator, as a new candidate biomarker for diagnosing ACO.

Patients And Methods: We performed a multicenter cohort study.

Difference in systemic inflammation and predictors of acute exacerbation between smoking-associated COPD and tuberculosis-associated COPD.

Purpose: Tuberculosis-associated COPD (T-COPD) has clinical characteristics similar to those of smoking-associated COPD (S-COPD), such as dyspnea, sputum production, and acute exacerbation (AE). However, the degree of systemic inflammation and prognosis might be different because of difference in the pathophysiology. The aim of this study was to compare the lung function, systemic inflammatory markers, and their impacts on AE in patients with S-COPD and T-COPD.

Elevated interleukin-6 and bronchiectasis as risk factors for acute exacerbation in patients with tuberculosis-destroyed lung with airflow limitation.

Background: Patients with tuberculosis-destroyed lungs (TDLs), with airflow limitation, have clinical characteristics similar to those of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Acute exacerbation is an important factor in the management of TDL. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with acute exacerbations in patients with stable TDL with airflow limitation.

The First Report of Robotic Bilateral Modified Radical Neck Dissection Through the Bilateral Axillo-breast Approach for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma With Bilateral Lateral Neck Metastasis.

Background: Robotic unilateral modified radical neck dissection (MRND) has been reported to be safe and achieves good oncologic results. However, there is no report of successful robotic bilateral MRND to date. We report the first case series of robotic bilateral MRND through the bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA).

infection increases the readmission rate of COPD patients.

Introduction: Acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) leads to rapid deterioration of pulmonary function and quality of life. It is unclear whether the prognosis for AECOPD differs depending on the bacterium or virus identified. The purpose of this study is to determine whether readmission of patients with severe AECOPD varies according to the bacterium or virus identified.

Presence of lung cancer and high gender, age, and physiology score as predictors of acute exacerbation in combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema: A retrospective study.

Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) patients visit hospitals frequently due to acute exacerbations (AEs); however, the predictors of CPFE AE have not been comprehensively described in literature. Thus, we investigated the predicting factors of AE in CPFE patients.We retrospectively reviewed medical records from the past 12 years at Korea University Guro Hospital.

Safety of medial dissection of the thyroid gland along the trachea based on anatomic constancy of the laryngeal entry point of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of safety of medial dissection of the thyroid gland along the trachea. Medial to lateral dissection of the thyroid gland along the trachea after early division of the isthmus has been known to be a useful technique in thyroid surgery, especially for difficult cases, but the risk of injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) has constrained thyroid surgeons from utilizing this technique to its full extent.

Methods: Distances of the laryngeal entry point (LEP) of 134 RLNs of 71 patients from the midline of the trachea, and some other anatomical distances, were measured intraoperatively.

Clinical Effectiveness of High-Flow Nasal Cannula in Hypoxaemic Patients during Bronchoscopic Procedures.

Background: Bronchoscopy is a useful diagnostic and therapeutic tool. However, the clinical use of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in adults with acute respiratory failure for diagnostic and invasive procedures has not been well evaluated. We present our experiences of well-tolerated diagnostic bronchoscopy as well as cases of improved saturation in hypoxaemic patients after a therapeutic bronchoscopic procedure.

Increased urinary l-histidine in patients with asthma-COPD overlap: a pilot study.

Purpose: Asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) is heterogeneous in nature and requires a unified diagnostic approach. We investigated the urinary levels of l-histidine, a precursor of histamine related to inflammatory responses, as a new candidate biomarker for diagnosing this condition.

Patients And Methods: We performed a prospective multicenter cohort study with retrospective analysis of 107 patients, who were divided into three groups: asthma, COPD, and ACO, according to the Spanish guidelines algorithm.

Harmful impact of air pollution on severe acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: particulate matter is hazardous.

Introduction: Particulate matter and air pollution in Korea are becoming worse. There is a lack of research regarding the impact of particulate matter on patients with COPD. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of various air pollution factors, including particulate matter, on the incidence rate of severe acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) events.

A Comparison of Robotic Versus Open Thyroidectomy for Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

Objectives: This study investigated the potential advantages of robotic thyroidectomy and determined whether it is safe and complete compared with conventional open surgery in patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

Materials And Methods: A total 376 consecutive patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection for papillary thyroid cancer from February 2013 to July 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Postoperative complication rates and surgical completeness were compared between the robotic and open groups.