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ObjectiveThe main aim of this study was to evaluate cancer antigen 125 (CA125)/carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) ratio (CCR), as a reliable marker to differentiate ovarian mucinous carcinoma from other epithelial ovarian carcinomas (EOCs), namely serous, clear cell, and endometrioid carcinomas.MethodsFemale patients suffering from different kinds of EOCs whom were subjected to elective surgery at the Gangnam Severance Hospital between January 2008 and December 2016, were included in this study. The serum levels of CA125 and CEA were assayed using commercially available kits per the manufacturer's instructions.ResultsThe CCR in mucinous carcinoma (mean 32.1) was significantly lower than that of clear cell (mean 235.0) and endometrioid carcinoma (mean 427.0) in stage I (all P

Lupus enteritis is a rare, severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), needing prompt diagnosis and proper management. However, SLE rarely presents as lupus enteritis at the time of initial diagnosis. Thus, delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis are common. We report a case of a 25-year-old woman with lupus panenteritis. The patient had multiple hospitalizations for abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea, initially without any other symptoms suggestive of SLE, but was later observed to have malar rash and oral ulcers. Laboratory investigations were compatible with SLE, including positive antinuclear antibody (1:320) with speckled pattern. CT revealed diffuse hypodense submucosal thickening of the stomach, the entire small bowel, colon, appendix, and rectum. Treatment with high-dose corticosteroids followed by maintenance therapy with mycophenolate mofetil, hydroxychloroquine, and azathioprine resulted in clinical improvement. Diagnosis of lupus enteritis requires a high index of suspicion given the low incidence and nonspecific clinical findings. (Korean J Gastroenterol 2016;67:107-111)

Through short-answer questions, we can reflect the depth of students' understanding and higher-order thinking skills. Scoring for short-answer questions may take long time and may be an issue on consistency of grading. To alleviate such the suffering, automated scoring systems are widely used in Europe and America, but are in the initial stage in research in Korea. In this paper, we propose a semi-automatic scoring system for short Korean free-text responses using semi-supervised learning. First of all, based on the similarity score between students' answers and model answers, the proposed system grades students' answers and the scored answers with high reliability have been included in the model answers through the thorough test. This process repeats until all answers are scored. The proposed system is used experimentally in Korean and social studies in Nationwide Scholastic Achievement Test. We have confirmed that the processing time and the consistency of grades are promisingly improved. Using the system, various assessment methods have got to be developed and comparative studies need to be performed before applying to school fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degenerative spinal cord disease cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), and cervical myelopathy caused by trauma, can result in debilitating symptoms affecting quality of life. This study used acupotomy and other Korean medicine treatments (acupuncture, herbal medicine, and physical therapy) to improve the symptoms of CSM and cervical myelopathy. The visual analog scale, the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale (mJOA scale), the Nurick grading system, and the American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale were used as the evaluation criteria to determine the effectiveness of treatment. The functional status of both patients improved from mild to moderate, with improved gait, local sensation, and level of pain. The degree of spinal cord injury remained the same. The findings of this study suggest that combined Korean medicine treatments including acupotomy may be helpful in the treatment of CSM and cervical myelopathy.

Background This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical effect of acupotomy, a newly upcoming acupuncture treatment method for a dorsal wrist ganglion cyst. Methods A patient with a dorsal wrist ganglion cyst was treated with acupotomy under ultrasonographic guidance. The symptoms caused by the cyst and size of the cyst under ultrasonographic observation were used to evaluate the effect of the acupotomy treatment. Results The numeric rating scale score reduced from 7 to 1.4 throughout the treatment period. The size and swelling of the cyst decreased following acupotomy treatment. Conclusion Acupotomy had a positive clinical effect in the treatment of a dorsal wrist ganglion cyst in this case. Further studies are required for its additional retrospective application

Background: Previous studies have shown that a higher resistive index (RI) on renal duplex ultrasonography was related with renal progression and acute kidney injury, especially in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) using an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor antagonist (ARB). We evaluated whether a RI value is a predictive factor for renal progression regardless of ACEI or ARB medication in patients with moderate renal dysfunction. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 119 patients with moderate renal dysfunction that had been evaluated with renal duplex ultrasonography from February 2011 to April 2015. Moderate renal dysfunction was defined as a stage 3 to 4 CKD. Renal progression was defined as a doubling of the baseline serum creatinine (sCr), a decrease of baseline glomerular filtration rate by > 50%, or initiation of renal replacement therapy. Results: The mean age was 64.7 ± 11.0 years and sCr level was 2.1 ± 1.2 mg/dL. The RI ≥ 0.79 group showed a higher incidence of renal progression (P = 0.004, log-rank test) compared with the RI < 0.79 group, irrespective of ACEI or ARB usage. In the Cox proportional hazard model, RI ≥ 0.79 was an independent prognostic factor after adjusting for age, sex, diabetes mellitus, sCr, proteinuria, and use of ACEI or ARB (hazard ratio, 4.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–22.53; P = 0.043). Conclusion: RI ≥ 0.79 on the renal duplex ultrasonography can be a helpful predictor for renal progression in patients with moderate renal dysfunction, regardless of their ACEI or ARB usage.