OBJECTIVE: We report a retrospective investigation of the prognostic value of bcl-2 and bax expression, and Ki-67 proliferative index in 42 astrocytic tumors. METHODS: We classified the astrocytic tumors and reviewed the clinical information and survival time. The sections were taken from surgically resected paraffin-embedded tissue and performed immunohistochemical stains for bcl-2, bax and Ki-67. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical stain for bcl-2 revealed a positivity in only two(4.76%) among forty-two cases. The immunostain for bax was positive in 35 cases(83.3%). However, the correlation between bcl-2 & bax expression and age, sex, tumor location, size, and histologic grade was not found. By Kaplan-Meier analysis, bcl-2 & bax expression and survival time in astrocytic tumors was no significance in log rank test(p>0.05). There were prognostic values between Ki-67 LI and histologic grade and between Ki-67 LI and survival time, respectively(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Bcl-2 and bax are not significant, whereas Ki-67 LI is suggested as a significant prognostic factor, associated with histologic grade and survival time of astrocytic tumors.
Coloring Agents ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and gene function of methyltransferase-like protein 27 (METTL27) in colon cancer, its association with immune infiltration and its prognostic significance. METHODS: We analyzed the expression levels of METTL27 in 33 cancers using R language and identified METTL27 as a differential gene in colon cancer. The related signaling pathways of METTL27 were analyzed by gene functional annotation and enrichment. SsGSEA algorithm was used to analyze immune infiltration, and logistic analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between METTL27 expression and clinicopathological features of the patients. Kaplan-meier analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed to construct a nomogram for evaluating the correlation between METTL27 expression and clinical prognosis. The expression level of METTL27 was further verified in colorectal cancer cell lines and 16 clinical specimens of colorectal cancer tissues using qPCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: METTL27 was highly expressed in 21 cancers, and its expression was significantly higher in colon cancer than in adjacent tissues (P < 0.001). METTL27-related genes were identified by differential analysis, and functional annotation revealed that METTL27 was significantly enriched in transmembrane transport and lipid metabolism, and 5 related signaling pathways were identified by GSEA. METTL27 expression was negatively correlated with different T helper cells and central memory T cells (P < 0.001). The patients with a high METTL27 mRNA expression had a poor survival outcome. Cox regression analysis showed that METTL27 expression was an independent prognostic factor of the overall survival. The expression level of METTL27 was significantly higher in the colorectal cancer cell line than in normal cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION METTL27 is overexpressed in colon cancer and is associated with a poor prognosis of the patients. A high expression of METTL27 showed is associated less T cell immune infiltration, suggesting the potential of METTL27 as a prognostic marker of colon cancer.
Colonic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger

Since the introduction of the concept of osseointegration, the success rate of dental implant has increased dramatically. So, the uses of dental implant in the treatment of partially or fully edentulous patients have played an important role in dental rehabilitation. Regardless of high success rate of dental implant, some amounts of fixtures cannot help failing. We can classify dental implant failure according to timing, causative factor, etc. This study is focused on dental implant fixture failure, occurring during preprosthetic stage. There are various reasons that cause implant failure on this periods, such as improper patient selection, poor bone quality, and periimplantitis, etc. We investigate the survival rate of 1058 fixtures, which installed in 306 patients in our clinic from January 1997 to December 1999, according to type, sex, location, fixture length and width, using Kaplan-Meier product-limit method and to compare each other with log-rank test. Overall survival rate was 96.80%, and 33 implants failed over the preprosthetic stage. Our survey data identified posterior location of mandible as being associated with implant failure(P<0.05).
Dental Implants* ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Mandible ; Osseointegration ; Patient Selection ; Peri-Implantitis ; Rehabilitation ; Survival Rate

To study the expressions of CD34 and CD117 in the tissues of hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) and to explore the relationship with clinical pathology and it's evaluation on the prognosis of HCC patients. The expressions of CD34 and CD117 were examined by two-step methods of PV-9000 of immunohistochemistry in 55 HCC cases, 10 liver cirrhotic specimens and 6 normal liver specimens. Clinical-pathological data, tumor recurrent rate and survival rate after hepatectomy were recorded and analyzed with Fisher's Exact Test, Pearson X2 Test, Kaplan-Meier, Log-Rank Test and Cox Regression. The positive expression of CD34 was found in 65.4% of HCC, 20% of cirrhostic liver specimens and 16.7% of normal liver specimens, respectively. Significant differences found among the three groups, and the CD34 expression was significantly associated with vessel embolus (X2 = 4.000, P = 0.046) and the histological grades (X2 = 11.008, P = 0.001). The positive expression of CD117 was 47.3%, 10% and 0% in HCC, cirrhotic liver specimens and normal liver tissues, respectively, and statistical differences esxisted among the three groups. The CD117 expression was dramatically related to the histological grades (X2 = 5.115, P = 0.024) and clinical stages (X2 = 15.459, P = 0.000). Median disease free survival time after hepatectomy was significantly shorter in the group with positive-expression of CD34 (X2 = 4.105, P = 0.043) and CD117 (X2 = 28.023, P = 0.000) than the negative-expressed groups, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that CD117 expression status, serum AFP levels and the size of tumor were independently prognostic factors for HCC patients. Tthe results demonstrated that CD34 and CD117 might play an important role in liver carcinogenesis and the progression of HCC, and they might potentially serve as markers for HCC prognosis.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local

INTRODUCTIONMetabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with several cancers, but it is not clear whether MS affects the prognosis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of MS in TSCC.

METHODSClinical data from 252 patients with TSCC who were initially treated at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between April 1998 and June 2011 were collected, and the associations between MS and clinicopathologic factors were retrospectively analyzed. Prognostic outcomes were examined by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTSOf the 252 patients, 48 were diagnosed with MS. MS was associated with early N category in TSCC (P < 0.001). The patients with MS showed longer survival than those without MS (P = 0.028). MS was an independent prognostic factor for patients with TSCC.

CONCLUSIONSMS is associated with early N category in TSCC. It is an independent prognostic factor for better survival in patients with TSCC.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation and to report the complication rates, including mechanical failure, erosion, and infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1990 to May 2011, AUS (AMS 800) implantations were performed in 56 adult males by one surgeon. Various demographic and preoperative variables, surgical variables, and postoperative outcomes, including success and complication rates with a median follow-up of 96 months, were recorded retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients at the time of AUS implantation was 61.8 (+/-14.2) years. During the follow-up period, the total complication rate was 41.1% (23 patients). The incidence of complications was significantly lower during the follow-up period after 48 months (p<0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that 5- and 10-year failure-free rates were 50.3% and 45.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term durability and functional outcomes are achievable for the AMS 800, but there are appreciable complication rates for erosion, mechanical failure, and infection of up to 30%.
Adult ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urinary Sphincter, Artificial

OBJECTIVE: The authors evaluated the effect of direct bypass (superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass) in the prevention of rebleeding episodes in patients suffering from hemorrhagic moyamoya disease by comparing this method with indirect bypass. METHODS: Fifteen patients who had hemorrhagic moyamoya without aneurysm comprised the study group. The mean age of patients was 44.4 years and follow up period ranged from 0.8 to 7.1 years (mean; 3.61 years). Revascularization surgery was performed in 21 sides in 15 patients. Direct bypass was performed in 17 sides and indirect bypass in the other 4 sides. RESULTS: During the follow-up period after the revascularization surgery, three sides (14.3%) of the 21 sides presented with rebleeding episode, one of 17 sides (mean follow-up periods; 2.94 years) treated with direct method and 2 of 4 sides (mean follow-up periods; 6.45 years) treated with indirect method. Kaplan-Meier analysis of rebleedingfree survival showed quite different between direct and indirect method but statistically insignificant (p=0.0541). CONCLUSION: Direct bypass may reduce the risk of hemorrhage more effectively than indirect bypass. However, direct bypass cannot always prevent rebleeding.
Aneurysm ; Cerebral Arteries ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Moyamoya Disease*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the oncological outcome of histologic variants in bladder cancer patients who underwent radical cystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 393 bladder cancer patients who underwent radical cystectomy at single center between January 2007 and August 2014. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to histologic types: pure urothelial cell carcinoma (UC) and squamous, micropapillary, and other variants. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to assess recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survivals (OS). The patients were divided into those with pathologic stage and nodal status. RESULTS: Among 393 bladder cancer patients, squamous, micropapillary histologic variants were observed in 38 (9.7%), 26 (6.6%), respectively, whereas 39 had other variant types. Stage T3 cancer occurred in more patients with histologic variant compared with those with pure UC. Pathologic positive nodal status was also frequently found in the histologic variant groups. Subgroup analysis according to T stage and nodal status showed no significant difference in RFS and OS. On multivariate analysis, pathologic T stage (stage T2: hazard ratio [HR], 2.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34–5.63; p=0.005; stage ≥T3: HR, 3.20; 95% CI, 1.62–6.30; p=0.001) and nodal status (HR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.05–2.56; p=0.028) were prognostic factors for RFS. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who underwent radical cystectomy, histologic variants were detected more often at advanced pathologic stage. Although histologic variants have been identified in the radical cystectomy specimen, treatment should be performed according to the pathologic stage.
Cystectomy* ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Multivariate Analysis ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

OBJECTIVE: Several scales are currently used to assess occlusion rates of coiled cerebral aneurysms. This study compared these scales as predictors of recanalization. METHODS: Clinical data of 827 patients harboring 901 aneurysms treated by coiling were retrospectively reviewed. Occlusion rates were assessed using angiographic grading scale (AGS), two-dimensional percent occlusion (2DPO), and volumetric packing density (vPD). Every scale had 3 categories. Followed patients were dichotomized into either presence or absence of recanalization. Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted, and Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to identify surviving probabilities of recanalization. Lastly, the predictive accuracies of three different scales were measured via Harrell's C index. RESULTS: The cumulative risk of recanalization was 7% at 12-month, 10% at 24-month, and 13% at 36-month of postembolization, and significantly higher for the second and third categories of every scale (p<0.001). Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of the second and third categories as compared with the first category of AGS (HR : 3.95 and 4.15, p=0.004 and 0.001) and 2DPO (HR : 4.87 and 3.12, p<0.001 and 0.01) were similar. For vPD, there was no association between occlusion rates and recanalization. The validated and optimism-adjusted C-indices were 0.50 [confidence (CI) : -1.09-2.09], 0.47 (CI : -1.10-2.09) and 0.44 (CI : -1.10-2.08) for AGS, 2DPO, and vPD, respectively. CONCLUSION: Total occlusion should be reasonably tried in coiling to maximize the benefit of the treatment. AGS may be the best to predict recanalization, whereas vPD should not be used alone.
Aneurysm ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Retrospective Studies ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although circadian variation in the onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been reported in a number of studies, not much is known about the impact of circadian variation on 12-month mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of circadian variation on 12-month mortality in patients with AMI. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eight hundred ninety two patients (mean age 67+/-12; 66.1% men) with AMI who visited Kyungpook National University Hospital from November 2005 to December 2007 were included in this study. Patients were divided into groups based on four 6-hours intervals: overnight (00:00-05:59); morning (06:00-11:59); afternoon (12:00-17:59) and evening (18:00-23:59). RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed 12-month mortality rates of 9.6%, 9.1%, 12.1%, and 16.7% in the overnight, morning, afternoon, evening-onset groups, respectively (p=0.012). Compared with the morning-onset AMI group, the serum creatinine levels (p=0.002), frequency of Killip class > or =3 (p=0.004), and prescription rate of diuretics (p=0.011) were significantly higher in the evening-onset AMI group, while the left ventricular ejection fraction (p=0.012) was significantly lower. The proportion of patients who arrived in the emergency room during routine duty hours was significantly lower in evening-onset groups irrespective of the presence or absence of ST-segment elevation (p<0.001). According to univariate analysis, the 12-month mortality rate in the evening group was significantly higher compared to the morning group (hazard ratio 1.998, 95% confidence interval 1.196 to 3.338, p=0.008). CONCLUSION: Patients with evening-onset AMI had poorer baseline clinical characteristics, and this might affect the circadian impact on 12-month mortality. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of circadian variation on the long-term outcome of AMI.
Circadian Rhythm ; Creatinine ; Diuretics ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prescriptions ; Stroke Volume