Exploring Physical Lumbar Microvascular Geometry Through Endoscopy and Illustrations: Implications for Clinical Interpretation.

Study Design: Retrospective Study.

Objectives: Minimally invasive endoscopic spinal surgery is gaining popularity, but our understanding of the lumbar spine's microvascular geometry relies heavily on cadaver studies and textbook illustrations. Additionally, inconsistent nomenclature of vessels in the literature hampers effective communication among surgeons.

Enhancing endoscopic foraminal decompression in adult isthmic spondylolisthesis: the potential influence of lateral recess isthmic spur and our case series of an innovative craniocaudal interlaminar approach via unilateral biportal endoscopic spinal surgery.

Background: The NASS guideline cannot recommend any of the surgical treatment options toward adult isthmic spondylolisthesis (AIS) since 2014. After the introduction of endoscopic decompression, instead of treating the spondylolysis itself, treatment can specifically target the refractory radicular pain developed during the degeneration progress without devastating the peripheral soft tissue. However, we noticed that endoscopic transforaminal decompression seems to be less effective in AIS compared to other types of degenerative spondylolisthesis.

An Ultrasonic Object Detection Applying the ID Based on Spread Spectrum Technique for a Vehicle.

When an ultrasonic sensor generates an ultrasonic wave and detects an obstacle from a reflected wave, a signal transmitted by other ultrasonic sensors would be interference. In this paper, to overcome the interference, a transducer transmits a signal with a unique ID modulated. The interference is ignored by verifying that the reflected signal includes its ID.

Risk Factors of Postoperative Spinal Epidural Hematoma After Biportal Endoscopic Spinal Surgery.

Background: Although postoperative spinal epidural hematoma is a rare complication, it can cause severe neurologic complications. Studies regarding biportal endoscopic spinal surgery, a type of minimally invasive spinal surgery technique, have been recently reported. The purpose of our study is to report the incidence and risk factors of postoperative hematoma after biportal endoscopic spinal surgery.

Biportal Endoscopic Spinal Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

Biportal endoscopic spinal surgery (BESS) is a minimally invasive spinal surgery, which is basically similar to microscopic spinal surgery in terms of the use of floating technique and technically similar to conventional percutaneous endoscopic spinal surgery in terms of the use of endoscopic or arthroscopic instruments. Using two independent portals (viewing and working) and maintaining a certain distance from the bony and neural structures allow closer access to the target lesion through a panoramic view by free handling of the scope and instruments rather than through a fixed view by docking into the Kambin's triangle. Minimally invasive surgery allows for reduced dissection and inevitable muscle injury, preserving stability and reducing risks of restabilization.

Factors Affecting Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication.

Background: Hypertension is a major contributor to the global disease burden of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine demographic and clinical factors associated with adherence to antihypertensive medication.

Methods: From August 2012 to February 2015, we recruited 1,523 Korean patients with hypertension who visited family physicians.

Reference values for hand grip strength in the South Korean population.

Objective: To establish reference values for hand grip strength (HGS) in a healthy Korean population and to identify the dependent anthropometric variables that affect HGS.

Methods: Based on the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2014 to 2015, we analyzed the HGS data of 7,969 South Koreans. Individuals with specific chronic diseases and who reported poor subjective health status were excluded to ensure a healthy population sample.

Effect of dietary β-mannanase on productive performance, egg quality, and utilization of dietary energy and nutrients in aged laying hens raised under hot climatic conditions.

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary β-mannanase on productive performance, egg quality, and utilization of dietary energy and nutrients in aged laying hens raised under hot climatic conditions.

Methods: A total of 320 84-wk-old Hy-line Brown aged laying hens were allotted to one of four treatments with eight replicates in a completely randomized design. Two dietary treatments with high energy (HE; 2,800 kcal/kg nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy [AME]) and low energy (LE; 2,700 kcal/kg AME) were formulated.

RADIATION DOSE FOR PEDIATRIC AND YOUNG ADULT CT: A SURVEY TO ESTABLISH AGE-BASED REFERENCE LEVELS OF 2015-2016 IN KOREA.

To assess the doses delivered to pediatric patients during computed tomography (CT) examinations of the brain, chest, high-resolution lung and abdomen, and to establish diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for various age groups in Korea. Dose survey was done to the 19 hospitals performing CT on children, addressing the scan parameters, volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product (DLP). Per five age group (0, 1, 2-5, 6-10, 11-17 y of age), the proposed DRLs for brain, chest, high-resolution lung and abdomen CT are, respectively, in terms of CTDIvol: 18, 23, 26, 31, 36 mGy; 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 mGy; 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 mGy; 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 mGy; and in terms of DLP: 260, 350, 420, 500, 620 mGy•cm; 50, 80, 100, 170, 340 mGy•cm; 30, 40, 60, 90, 280 mGy•cm; 70, 80, 200, 300, 500 mGy•cm.

Impact of night-shift work on the prevalence of erosive esophagitis in shipyard male workers.

Purpose: Whether night-shift work is a risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux disease is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between night-shift work and other factors, and erosive esophagitis.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with 6040 male shipyard workers was performed.

The ACC/AHA 2013 pooled cohort equations compared to a Korean Risk Prediction Model for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Background And Aims: To evaluate the performance of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) 2013 Pooled Cohort Equations in the Korean Heart Study (KHS) population and to develop a Korean Risk Prediction Model (KRPM) for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events.

Methods: The KHS cohort included 200,010 Korean adults aged 40-79 years who were free from ASCVD at baseline. Discrimination, calibration, and recalibration of the ACC/AHA Equations in predicting 10-year ASCVD risk in the KHS cohort were evaluated.

Patient dose for computed tomography examination: dose reference levels and effective doses based on a national survey of 2013 in Korea.

14,620 sets of patient dose data were obtained for 31 different models of computed tomography (CT) equipment (total 73) with 18 types of CT examination in Korea. Specific diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for this study in terms of third quartile volumetric CT dose index in mGy [and dose-length product (DLP) in mGy.cm] are as follows: head, 53 (910); neck, 20 (770); chest, 14 (710); abdomen, 14 (1000); stomach, 14 (1000); liver, 14 (1700); pancreas, 14 (1700); kidney, 14 (2100); cervical spine, 30 (600); lumbar spine, 25 (760); hip, 17 (600); cardiac CT angiography, 45 (1250); head CT angiography, 43 (1900); liver CT angiography, 14 (1400) and thoraco-abdominal CT angiography, 16 (2000).

A coronary heart disease prediction model: the Korean Heart Study.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to develop a coronary heart disease (CHD) risk model among the Korean Heart Study (KHS) population and compare it with the Framingham CHD risk score.

Design: A prospective cohort study within a national insurance system.

Setting: 18 health promotion centres nationwide between 1996 and 2001 in Korea.

Association between Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Seropositivity and Metabolic Syndrome.

Background: Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We investigated the relationship between HBV infection and metabolic syndrome.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 9,474 Korean men and women who were at least 20 years old and who underwent a routine health check-up at Ulsan University Hospital in Ulsan, South Korea between March 2008 and February 2009.

Can unilateral-approach minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion attain indirect contralateral decompression? A preliminary report of 66 MRI analysis.

Purpose: Few studies have measured the amount of indirect decompression at the contralateral neural foramen after unilateral-approach minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MITLIF). This study examined the amount of intraoperative indirect decompression at the contralateral neural foramen after a unilateral-approach MITLIF in patients with bilateral foraminal stenosis.

Methods: From February 2009 to October 2012, 66 consecutive patients with bilateral foraminal stenosis underwent unilateral-approach MITLIF and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The Korean Heart Study: rationale, objectives, protocol, and preliminary results for a new prospective cohort study of 430,920 men and women.

Background: To describe the rationale, objectives, protocol, and preliminary results for a new prospective cohort study of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in South Korea.

Methods: Study members were recruited from participants in routine health assessments at health promotion centres across South Korea. Established and emerging CVD risk factors were measured.

Radiation exposure in multidetector CT: dose comparison between late 1990s and early 2010s in Korea.

The effective dose under ordinary clinical computed tomography (CT) protocols using three kinds of 64-channel and a 40-channel CT ranged from 0.6 to 15.5 mSv in early 2010s.

Subsidence of polyetheretherketone cage after minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

Study Design: A retrospective case series.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the rate of cage subsidence after minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MITLIF) conducted using a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage, and to identify associated risk factors.

Summary Of Background Data: Although various rates of cage subsidence after lumbar interbody fusion have been reported, few studies have addressed subsidence rate after MITLIF using PEEK cage.

Chronic pure radiculopathy in patient with organizing epidural hematoma around C8 nerve root.

Spontaneously occurring spinal epidural hematomas are uncommon clinical findings, and the chronic form is the rarest and its most frequent location is the lumbar spine. Pure radicular involvement is far less frequent than myelopathy. We report a case of progressive radiculopathy in a 52-year-old man with spontaneously occurring cervical epidural hematoma (SCEH).

Metabolic syndrome, lifestyle risk factors, and distal colon adenoma: a retrospective cohort study.

Aim: To investigate relationships between colorectal adenoma incidence, metabolic syndrome (MS) components and lifestyle factors.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from individuals who had multiple sigmoidoscopies for colon cancer at the Health Promotion Center of Ulsan University Hospital in Korea from 1998 to 2007.

Results: By multivariate analysis, the incidence of distal colon adenoma was increased by more than 1.

Factors affecting the accurate placement of percutaneous pedicle screws during minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

We retrospectively evaluated 488 percutaneous pedicle screws in 110 consecutive patients that had undergone minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MITLIF) to determine the incidence of pedicle screw misplacement and its relevant risk factors. Screw placements were classified based on postoperative computed tomographic findings as "correct", "cortical encroachment" or as "frank penetration". Age, gender, body mass index, bone mineral density, diagnosis, operation time, estimated blood loss (EBL), level of fusion, surgeon's position, spinal alignment, quality/quantity of multifidus muscle, and depth to screw entry point were considered to be demographic and anatomical variables capable of affecting pedicle screw placement.

Pediatric lumbar epidural abscess combined with cauda equina syndrome: case report.

Pyogenic epidural abscess is a very rare disease. Once it occurs, it promptly progresses and can cause neurologic paralysis. Mean age of onset has been reported to be 57 years.

The clinical and radiological outcomes of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody single level fusion.

Study Design: This is a retrospective study that was done according to clinical and radiological evaluation.

Purpose: We analyzed the clinical and radiological outcomes of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody single level fusion.

Overview Of Literature: Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion is effective surgical method for treating degenerative lumbar disease.

Comparison of cancer incidence between production and office workers at a shipyard in Korea: a retrospective cohort study from 1992 to 2005.

Background: Cancer is a major concern in shipbuilding. Since 1970s, shipbuilding and repair has been a strategic industry in Korea, which has become currently the world's largest shipbuilding country. The aim of this study is to investigate the cancer incidence in shipyard workers in Korea.