Pneumocephalus is a rare complication of neuraxial procedures and is usually associated with inadvertent dural puncture or the use of air during epidural space identification. Epiduroscopic epidural neuroplasty (EEN) is performed without air injection and permits direct visualization of the epidural space; therefore, pneumocephalus after this procedure is extremely uncommon. A 71-year-old woman with a history of lumbar spine surgery underwent EEN via a caudal approach without sedation. No dural puncture was identified during the procedure. Approximately 12 hours later, she developed a non-orthostatic headache. Brain computed tomography revealed pneumocephalus in the basal cistern and left lateral ventricle. Her symptoms improved with oxygen therapy but worsened 5 days later despite radiologic resolution of the pneumocephalus. Suspected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage was treated with an epidural blood patch, which resolved her symptoms. Pneumocephalus may occur after EEN without clinically or endoscopically recognized dural injury and may coexist with CSF leakage; an occult microdural defect cannot be excluded as the underlying mechanism. Prompt imaging should be considered in patients who develop early or atypical postprocedural headache.
Purpose This study aimed to characterize co-occurrence patterns, statistical associations, and phenotypic clusters of clinical manifestations reported in human toxocariasis case reports indexed in PubMed from 2005 through 2025, inclusive. Methods PubMed-indexed case reports from 2005 through 2025 were identified using the query (“Toxocariasis” OR “Toxocara”) AND “Case Reports” [Publication Type] AND 2005:2025[dp] AND ffrft[Filter]. Free full-text articles were retrieved through PubMed Central and other links indexed in PubMed using the ffrft filter. After 7 nonhuman reports and 5 reports without objective diagnostic confirmation were excluded, 139 case reports were included. Antigravity was used to support data extraction, standardization, statistical analysis, and figure generation. Clinical features were mapped to standardized symptom and organ-involvement variables. Pairwise co-occurrence was assessed using 2×2 contingency tables and Fisher’s exact test; association strength was measured using Pearson correlation coefficients; and k-means clustering was used to identify distinct clinical phenotypes. Results Four principal clusters were identified: subclinical disease, ocular larva migrans, visceral larva migrans, and neurotoxocariasis/multisystemic disease. The ocular larva migrans and visceral larva migrans clusters were largely distinct, whereas ocular features were frequently co-reported in the neurotoxocariasis/multisystemic cluster. Eosinophilia was strongly associated with systemic manifestations, including fever, dyspnea, cough, pruritus, hepatomegaly, headache, and meningitis, but was not significantly associated with ocular features. Neurotoxocariasis-related features, including headache, meningitis, and seizures, clustered closely. Conclusion This artificial intelligence-assisted scoping review identified exploratory clinical association and clustering patterns in human toxocariasis case reports. These findings may support clinical awareness, but they require validation in curated clinical datasets before they are used for diagnosis, risk stratification, or practice guidance.
Appendiceal mucinous adenocarcinoma is a rare gastrointestinal malignancy that may metastasize to the ovaries and closely mimic advanced primary ovarian cancer, creating diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 61-year-old postmenopausal woman presented with postmenopausal bleeding, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Imaging demonstrated bilateral adnexal masses with omental caking and ascites, suggestive of advanced ovarian malignancy. Cancer antigen 125 was elevated, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were markedly increased. She had a history of acute appendicitis 1 year earlier. Biopsy revealed mucinous adenocarcinoma with signet-ring cells. Endoscopic evaluation was unremarkable. Despite neoadjuvant chemotherapy for presumed ovarian cancer, the disease progressed, necessitating cytoreductive surgery. Histopathological examination demonstrated bilateral mucinous adenocarcinoma with peritoneal spread. Immunohistochemistry showed positivity for cytokeratin 20, caudal-type homeobox 2, and special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 and negativity for cytokeratin 7 and paired-box gene 8, supporting an appendiceal origin. She was started on fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin chemotherapy. Metastatic appendiceal carcinoma can closely resemble primary ovarian malignancy. Bilateral mucinous ovarian tumors with elevated CEA levels and poor chemotherapy response should prompt evaluation for a gastrointestinal primary tumor.
Purpose: Rectus sheath block (RSB) is a simple abdominal wall block that can be readily applied. This study evaluated the postoperative analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided bilateral RSB in robotic single-site gynecologic surgery.Methods: Sixty patients were randomly assigned to the RSB group (n=30) or the control group (n=30). After induction of general anesthesia, patients in the RSB group received ultrasound-guided bilateral RSB with 30 mL of 0.25% ropivacaine. Pain intensity was assessed using a verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) at 0, 1, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively. Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia was provided to all patients, and fentanyl was administered as rescue analgesia on request.Results: VNRS scores at 0, 1, and 6 hours were significantly lower in the RSB group than in the control group (all P<0.05). Rescue fentanyl use in the post-anesthesia care unit was also significantly lower in the RSB group than in the control group (19.8±21.0 μg vs. 46.3±27.6 μg, P<0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that RSB was associated with lower VNRS scores in patients undergoing ovarian surgery or myomectomy, whereas no significant difference was observed in patients undergoing hysterectomy.Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided bilateral RSB reduced early postoperative pain and rescue analgesic requirements after robotic single-site gynecologic surgery.
Primary leiomyosarcoma of the breast is an extremely rare malignancy, accounting for less than 1% of all breast tumors. Diagnosis is challenging because its morphology overlaps with that of other spindle cell lesions, and standardized treatment guidelines are currently unavailable. A 44-year-old woman presented with a rapidly enlarging, firm, 15×15 cm mass in the left breast. She had previously undergone surgery elsewhere, with diagnoses of leiomyoma and desmoid-type fibromatosis. Imaging demonstrated a lobulated mass without evidence of metastasis. Excision revealed pleomorphic spindle cells arranged in intersecting fascicles, with necrosis and dermal invasion. Primary breast leiomyosarcoma was confirmed by immunohistochemistry, which demonstrated smooth muscle actin and desmin positivity and negative staining for pancytokeratin, p63, S100, CD34, and BCL2. The patient underwent modified radical mastectomy followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Primary breast leiomyosarcoma is a rare entity that remains diagnostically challenging. Immunohistochemistry is essential for accurate diagnosis, and optimal management requires a dedicated multidisciplinary approach.
Purpose Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) has emerged as a highly effective approach for managing gastrointestinal transmural defects and may offer advantages over traditional methods, such as stenting. This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of EVT for gastrointestinal transmural defects resulting from leakages, perforations, and fistulas. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent EVT for gastrointestinal transmural defects at Ewha Womans University Medical Center between February 2018 and September 2025 and analyzed clinical outcomes, adverse events, and risk factors associated with adverse events. Results Fourteen patients were included (mean age, 63.9 years; 85.7% male). Stomach surgery was the most common etiology (50.0%), and malignancy accounted for 71.4% of cases. The median number of EVT sessions was 2.5, and the mean interval from the index event to the first EVT session was 10.5 days. EVT achieved a 100% technical success rate, with no 30-day mortality; there was 1 in-hospital death (7.1%), 2 cases of stricture (14.3%), and 1 major bleeding event (7.1%). Adverse events were observed more frequently in patients who underwent ≥3 EVT sessions (57.1%) compared with those who underwent <3 sessions, in whom no adverse events occurred. Conclusion This study suggests that EVT is a safe and effective treatment for gastrointestinal transmural defects, with high technical success rates. The number of EVT sessions and the timing of treatment initiation appeared to be associated with complications and overall clinical outcomes.
Purpose Human papillomavirus is the dominant etiological factor underlying atypical cervical squamous epithelial cell abnormalities and cervical carcinoma. Currently, only a limited number of drugs targeting specific biomarkers in cervical cancer are available. This study aimed to assess the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and the Ki-67 proliferative index (Ki-67) in p16-positive cervical squamous premalignant and malignant lesions, which may help clarify the potential role of targeted therapies in cervical cancer. Methods In p16-positive, histologically proven premalignant and malignant cervical lesions, ER, HER2, and Ki-67 expression were evaluated according to predefined criteria. Results p16 showed strong nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity in 54 of 56 cases. Patchy nuclear positivity was mainly observed in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) cases (2/56). Ki-67 demonstrated a variable proliferative index ranging from 5% to 95% across all cases, with higher indices predominantly observed in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). ER positivity in LSIL, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and SCC was 100% (2/2), 66.7% (10/15), and 46.15% (18/39), respectively. HER2 expression was predominantly negative, observed in 78.6% (44/56) of cases, equivocal in 17.8% (10/56), and positive in 3.6% (2/56). Both HER2-positive cases were SCC. ER and HER2 interpretations were analyzed and were not significantly correlated with clinical or pathological parameters. Conclusion ER positivity decreased with progression of cervical squamous lesions, and HER2 expression was rare in cervical squamous neoplasia. No statistically significant correlation was identified between ER or HER2 expression and clinicopathological parameters. The findings of the current study may help fill gaps in the existing literature and provide essential foundational knowledge for optimizing emerging therapeutic strategies, including ER- and HER2-related therapies.
Cardiovascular disease, particularly ischemic heart disease, remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Although advances in pharmacological and device-based therapies have improved clinical outcomes, effective strategies for myocardial repair and regeneration remain limited. T-cadherin, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored atypical cadherin, has recently been identified as a functional receptor for both low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and adiponectin, a cardioprotective adipokine. Notably, the interaction between T-cadherin and adiponectin has emerged as a key regulator of exosome biogenesis and paracrine signaling within cardiovascular tissues. Exosomes are nanosized extracellular vesicles that carry protective molecular cargo, including microRNAs and proteins, and contribute to anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and angiogenic effects in the ischemic myocardium. However, their clinical translation is challenged by factors such as variability in yield, heterogeneity of exosome populations, and inefficient tissue targeting. Enhancing endogenous exosome production through the T-cadherin-adiponectin pathway may therefore offer a novel cell-free therapeutic strategy. This review explores the biological roles of T-cadherin and adiponectin in cardiovascular diseases, their regulatory influence on exosome formation, and the future potential of leveraging this axis for myocardial repair and regeneration.
A 28-year-old woman developed drug-induced tachycardia in the left lateral decubitus (LLD) position following intravenous administration of glycopyrrolate. The tachycardia was unresponsive to esmolol, labetalol, and fentanyl but resolved unexpectedly after the tidal volume was reduced from 8 to 6 mL/kg. Drug-induced tachycardia or arrhythmia occurring in the LLD position under mechanical ventilation may be attenuated by adopting a low tidal volume ventilation strategy (6 mL/kg).
멘델 무작위화(Mendelian randomization, MR) 연구는 조절 가능한 노출(modifiable exposure)이 건강결과에 미치는 인과효과(causal effect)를 더 잘 이해하게 해 주지만, 그 근거는 종종 보고가 불충분함으로 인하여연구 결과의 해석과 적용에 한계가 있을 수 있다. 보고지침은 흔히 무슨 연구를 하고 무엇을 발견했는지 독자가 쉽게 이해하도록 돕는다. STROBE-MR(관찰연구의 멘델 무작위화를 활용한 보고지침)은 MR 연구를 명확하고 투명하게 보고하도록 돕는다. STROBE-MR을 논문 작성에 활용하면 독자, 심사자, 학술지 편집인이 MR 연구의 보고 품질과 완성도를 평가하는 데 도움이 될 것이다. 이 글은 STROBE-MR 체크리스트 20개 항목의 의미와 근거를 설명하고, 각 항목마다 사례를 제시해 독자가 잘 이해할 수 있는 논문 작성법을 설명하려고 하였다.
Purpose This review aims to synthesize the most up-to-date evidence on effective lifestyle prescriptions for managing patients with obesity in the primary care setting. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted through June 2025 using major domestic and international databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and RISS, as well as the websites of relevant academic societies. The search strategy employed keywords such as “obesity,” “primary care,” “lifestyle intervention,” “diet,” “exercise,” and “behavioral therapy” in both English and Korean. Results Effective obesity management should be grounded in the new paradigm of adiposity-based chronic disease, which focuses on preventing and treating the medical complications associated with excessive fat accumulation. The essential components of a successful lifestyle prescription comprise 3 pillars: diet, exercise, and behavioral therapy. An individualized dietary plan that achieves an energy deficit of 500–750 kcal is fundamental. Exercise prescriptions should recommend a combination of aerobic and resistance training, along with strategies to minimize sedentary time. In behavioral therapy, high-intensity behavioral counseling, the 6A model (ask, assess, advise, agree, assist, arrange), self-monitoring, and cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques have all demonstrated efficacy. Conclusion Primary care physicians are not only capable but also uniquely positioned to lead long-term, patient-centered obesity management. Their comprehensive and integrative perspective makes them one of the most efficient and scalable resources in addressing the obesity epidemic.
Pediatric anesthesia presents unique challenges due to children's distinct physiological and anatomical characteristics, including variations in drug metabolism, airway structure, and respiratory and circulatory regulation. Despite significant advances in patient safety that have reduced anesthesia-related mortality over recent decades, the declining pediatric population has made specialized training and clinical practice increasingly difficult. This narrative review addresses practical aspects of pediatric anesthesia, emphasizing patient monitoring, airway management, and recent clinical advances. Oxygen supply targets in children require careful titration to ensure adequate tissue oxygenation while avoiding oxygen toxicity and its associated complications, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and retinopathy of prematurity. Quantitative monitoring of neuromuscular blockade, such as with train-of-four stimulation, is essential to prevent postoperative respiratory complications. Temperature monitoring is equally critical in pediatric surgery because children and neonates are highly susceptible to intraoperative hypothermia. Airway management in infants and young children is complicated by anatomical differences, and while video laryngoscopy offers advantages, evidence for its benefits in neonates remains inconclusive. Extubation strategies must be individualized, taking into account risks such as laryngospasm and airway obstruction, as both deep and awake extubation have demonstrated comparable safety profiles. Emerging modalities, such as transfontanelle ultrasonography, provide real-time cerebral blood flow assessment and enhance perioperative brain monitoring. Regional anesthesia techniques in neonates and infants reduce exposure to general anesthetics and facilitate faster recovery but require meticulous technique and monitoring to ensure safety. Multidisciplinary collaboration and effective communication with parents are essential to achieving optimal outcomes.
