Yonsei medical journal
-
Yonsei medical journal · Jul 2013
Clinical TrialConservative and surgical treatment improves pain and ankle-brachial index in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.
The pathological mechanism of lumbar spinal stenosis is reduced blood flow in nerve roots and degeneration of nerve roots. Exercise and prostaglandin E1 is used for patients with peripheral arterial disease to increase capillary flow around the main artery and improve symptoms; however, the ankle-brachial index (ABI), an estimation of blood flow in the main artery in the leg, does not change after treatment. Lumbar spinal nerve roots contain somatosensory, somatomotor, and unmyelinated autonomic nerves. Improved blood flow by medication with prostaglandin E1 and decompression surgery in these spinal nerve roots may improve the function of nerve fibers innervating muscle, capillary, and main vessels in the lower leg, resulting in an increased ABI. The purpose of the study was to examine whether these treatments can improve ABI. ⋯ This is the first investigation of changes in ABI after treatment in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Improvement of the spinal nerve roots by medication and decompression surgery may improve the supply of blood flow to the lower leg in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.
-
Yonsei medical journal · Jul 2013
Observational StudyIs small prostate volume a predictor of Gleason score upgrading after radical prostatectomy?
We aimed to analyze the relationship between prostate volume and Gleason score (GS) upgrading [higher GS category in the radical prostatectomy (RP) specimen than in the prostate biopsy] in Korean men. ⋯ In our study, smaller prostate volumes were at increased risk for GS upgrading after RP. This finding should be kept in mind when making treatment decisions for men with prostate cancer that appears to be of a low grade on biopsy, especially in Asian urologic fields.
-
Yonsei medical journal · Jul 2013
The impact of cigarette smoking on the frequency of and qualitative differences in KRAS mutations in Korean patients with lung adenocarcinoma.
This study was designed to determine the relationship of cigarette smoking to the frequency and qualitative differences among KRAS mutations in lung adenocarcinomas from Korean patients. ⋯ Cigarette smoking did not influence the frequency of KRAS mutations in lung adenocarcinomas in Korean patients, but influenced qualitative differences in the KRAS mutations.
-
Yonsei medical journal · Jul 2013
Observational StudyTracheal wall thickening is associated with the granulation tissue formation around silicone stents in patients with post-tuberculosis tracheal stenosis.
Tracheal restenosis due to excessive granulation tissue around a silicone stent requires repeated bronchoscopic interventions in patients with post-tuberculosis tracheal stenosis (PTTS). The current study was conducted to identify the risk factors for granulation tissue formation after silicone stenting in PTTS patients. ⋯ Tracheal wall thickening was associated with granulation tissue formation around silicone stents in patients with post-tuberculosis tracheal stenosis.