Analysis of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Use in the Treatment of Lumbar Degenerative Spondylolisthesis.

 Retrospective database review.  To identify trends of the recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) use in the treatment of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (LDS).  PearlDiver Patient Record Database was used to identify patients who underwent lumbar fusion for LDS between 2005 and 2011.

Postlaminectomy Bilateral Lumbar Intraspinal Synovial Cysts.

Lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts are included in the difference diagnosis of lumbar radiculopathy. Developing imaging modalities has result in increased reporting about these lesions. However, the case of bilateral new lumbar intraspinal synovial cysts after laminectomy has been rarely reported.

Predicting survival of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis using GAP score: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: The clinical course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) varies widely. Although the GAP model is useful for predicting mortality, survivals have not yet been validated for each GAP score. We aimed to elucidate how prognosis is related to GAP score and GAP stage in IPF patients.

Complications Related to the Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 Use in Posterior Cervical Fusion.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To compare the complications between posterior cervical fusions with and without recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP2).

Summary Of Background Data: Use of rhBMP2 in anterior cervical spinal fusion procedures can lead to potential complications such as neck edema, resulting in airway complications or neurological compression.

Iliac Crest Bone Graft versus Local Autograft or Allograft for Lumbar Spinal Fusion: A Systematic Review.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety between iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) and local autologous bone and allograft in the lumbar spine.

Methods: A systematic search of multiple major medical reference databases identified studies evaluating spinal fusion in patients with degenerative joint disease using ICBG, local autograft, or allograft in the thoracolumbar spine.

Trends of Posterior Long Segment Fusion with and without Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 in Patients with Scoliosis.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objective: Symptomatic scoliosis can be a source of severe pain and disability. When nonoperative treatments fail, spine fusion is considered as an effective procedure in scoliosis management.

Efficacy and safety of empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes from Asian countries: pooled data from four phase III trials.

We investigated the efficacy and safety of empagliflozin over 24 weeks in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) using pooled data from four phase III trials. In these trials, patients were randomized to receive empagliflozin 10 mg, empagliflozin 25 mg or placebo as monotherapy or add-on to metformin, metformin plus sulphonylurea or pioglitazone ± metformin. In total, 1326 patients from Asia received ≥1 dose of study drug.

Synthetic bone graft versus autograft or allograft for spinal fusion: a systematic review.

The purpose of this review was to compare the efficacy and safety of synthetic bone graft substitutes versus autograft or allograft for the treatment of lumbar and cervical spinal degenerative diseases. Multiple major medical reference databases were searched for studies that evaluated spinal fusion using synthetic bone graft substitutes (either alone or with an autograft or allograft) compared with autograft and allograft. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) and cohort studies with more than 10 patients were included.

Effect of Nerve-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy on Urinary Continence in Patients With Preoperative Erectile Dysfunction.

Purpose: We aimed to assess whether nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (nsRP) is associated with improved recovery of urinary continence compared to non-nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (nnsRP) in patients with localized prostate cancer and preoperative erectile dysfunction.

Methods: A total of 360 patients with organ-confined prostate cancer and an International Index of Erectile Function score of less than 17 were treated with nsRP or nnsRP in Seoul St. Mary's Hospital.

Comparisons of Prognosis between Surgically and Clinically Diagnosed Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Using Gap Model: A Korean National Cohort Study.

Although a multidisciplinary approach has become an important criterion for an idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis, lung biopsies remain crucial. However, the prognosis of patients with surgically diagnosed IPF (sIPF) is uncertain. We aimed to investigate the prognosis of patients with clinically diagnosed IPF (cIPF) and sIPF.

Modulation of prefrontal-cingulate connectivity in affective processing of children with experiences of ostracism.

Background: The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has been shown to be involved in emotional distress induced by social exclusion and the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) in the regulation or inhibition of the distress. Here, we examined modulation of effective connectivity between the regions in response to emotional feedback in children with experiences of ostracism in their everyday life.

Methods: In functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments, 10 ostracized children and 11 control children were provided emotional feedback inducing negative or positive affective states.

Single-port laparoscopic debulking surgery of variant benign metastatic leiomyomatosis with simultaneous lymphatic spreading and intraperitoneal seeding.

Benign metastatic leiomyomatosis (BML) is a rare disease characterized by smooth muscle cell proliferation in extrauterine sites including the lung, abdomen, pelvis, and retroperitoneum. Depending on location, BML is classified as intravenous leiomyomatosis and diffuse peritoneal leiomyomatosis. Pathogenesis of BML can be iatrogenic after previous myomectomy or hysterectomy, hormonal, or coelomic metaplasia.

Normative Study of the Literacy Independent Cognitive Assessment in Illiterate and Literate Elderly Koreans.

Objective: The aim of this study was to provide normative data on the Literacy Independent Cognitive Assessment (LICA) and to explore the effects of age, education/literacy, and gender on the performance of this test.

Methods: Eight hundred and eighty-eight healthy elderly subjects, including 164 healthy illiterate subjects, participated in this study. None of the participants had serious medical, psychiatric, or neurological disorders including dementia.

Is the Internet gaming-addicted brain close to be in a pathological state?

Internet gaming addiction (IGA) is becoming a common and widespread mental health concern. Although IGA induces a variety of negative psychosocial consequences, it is yet ambiguous whether the brain addicted to Internet gaming is considered to be in a pathological state. We investigated IGA-induced abnormalities of the brain specifically from the network perspective and qualitatively assessed whether the Internet gaming-addicted brain is in a state similar to the pathological brain.

Early Outcomes of Endoscopic Vein Harvesting during the Initial Learning Period.

Background: The endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) method has been used in coronary artery bypass surgery in many countries. We started using the EVH method recently, and investigated the results during the early learning period.

Methods: Between March 2012 and June 2014, 75 patients (31 patients in the EVH method group, and 44 patients in the open method group) who underwent isolated first-time coronary artery bypass grafting using vein grafts were retrospectively analyzed with respect to the early outcomes including graft patency and risk factors for leg wound complications.

Inpatient stroke rehabilitation outcomes in Korea derived from the Korean Brain Rehabilitation Centers' online database system for the years 2007 to 2011.

The purpose of this report was to provide information for patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation after stroke and to identify the possible factors influencing functional outcome after inpatient rehabilitation. Stroke patients (n = 5,212) who were discharged from the Departments of Rehabilitation Medicine (RM) of university hospitals and rehabilitation hospitals from 2007 through 2011 were participants. Prevalence, age, transfer time after onset, length of stay (LOS), functional status at admission and discharge were analyzed.

Prevention of venous thromboembolism in medical intensive care unit: a multicenter observational study in Korea.

Patients admitted to medical intensive care unit (MICU) are at increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE); and prophylaxis is recommended. However, the actual range and frequency of VTE prophylaxis administered to MICU patients are not well defined. Patients over 40 yr of age and expected MICU stay of more than 48 hr were eligible for this observational cohort study of 23 MICUs in Korea.

Validation of the Korean version Moorehead-Ardelt quality of life questionnaire II.

Purpose: To investigate the weight loss effects with higher sensitivity, disease specific quality of life (QoL) instruments were important. The Moorehead-Ardelt quality of life questionnaire II (MA-II) is widely used, because it was simple and validated the several languages. The aims of present study was performed the translation of MA-II Korean version and the validation compared with EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D), obesity-related problems scale (OP-scale), and impact of weight quality of life-lite (IWQoL-Lite).

Outcome and current status of therapeutic hypothermia after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Korea using data from the Korea Hypothermia Network registry.

Objective: Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has become the standard strategy for reducing brain damage in the postresuscitation period. The aim of this study was to investigate current TH performance and outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors using data from the Korean Hypothermia Network (KORHN) registry.

Methods: We used the KORHN registry, a web-based multicenter registry that includes 24 participating hospitals throughout the Republic of Korea.

Internal iliac artery embolization during an endovascular aneurysm repair with detachable interlock microcoils.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of detachable interlock microcoils for an embolization of the internal iliac artery during an endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 40 patients with aortic aneurysms, who had undergone an EVAR between January 2010 and March 2012. Among them, 16 patients were referred for embolization of the internal iliac artery for the prevention of type II endoleaks.

Establishment of endogenous human tympanic membrane-derived somatic stem cells for stem cell therapy.

We examined whether somatic stem cells (SSCs) exist in human tympanis membrane (hTM) and whether they could be differentiated into neural lineage cells. The hTM-SSCs could generate neurospheres, which could differentiate into specific neural linage cells under specific differentiation conditions. Also, we conducted another experiment that led to differentiation into neurospheres and neuronal lineage cells, which occurred independent of each other.

Relining technique for continuous sac enlargement and modular disconnection secondary to endotension after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

Endotension is an unpredictable late complication of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). This case report will discuss the successful treatment of enlarged aneurysmal sac due to endotension using the relining technique. An 81-year-old male complained of nondecreasing huge aneurysm sac.