PURPOSE: To investigate the safety and usefulness of Lipiodol-percutaneous transhepatic ethanolinjection(L-PEI) and to determine the appropriate concentration of Lipiodol during L-PEI. This was achieved byevalvating CT findings and histopathologic changes according to the concentration of Lipiodol, amount of ethanol,and the time interval after injection into normal rabbit liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This experimental studyinvolved 18 New Zealand rabbits under US guidance. They were divided into five groups according to injectedmaterials; two rabbits with 0.4cc of normal saline(group I), six with 0.4cc of ethanol in the left hepaticlobe(group II), and 0.4cc of Lipiodol in the right hepatic lobe(group III), five rabbits with 5%Lipiodol-ethanol(5% vol. of Lipiodol+95% vol. of ethanol), 0.2cc in the right hepatic lobe, and 0.4cc in theleft(group IV); and five rabbits with 10% Lipiodol-ethanol as per group IV(group V). CT was performed immediately,one week, two weeks, and three-four weeks after injection, and pathologic specimens were obtained on the thirdday(acute phase) and during the third or fourth week(chronic phase) after injection. RESULTS: On CT, intrahepaticlocalization of the L-PEI injection site was well demonstrated as a focal high attenuated area which graduallydecreased in attenuation on follow up CT. The opacification of the inferior vena cava by Lipiodol, the lineardistribution of Lipiodol along portal veins or fissures, and peritoneal leakage were clearly demonstrated ingroups III-V, though the effects gradually disappeared during follow-up CT. There was no remarkable difference ingross CT attenuation between group IV and group V. The main pathologic findings during the acute phase of group IIwere coagulation necrosis surrounded by macrophage, inflammatory reaction, and early periportal and subcapsularfibrosis. The findings in group IV and V were similar to those in group II and additional fat vacuoleaccumulations in the necrotic area were also seen. During the chronic phase of group II, areas of necrosis wereabsent or smaller and were surrounded or replaced by more organized fibrosis, macrophage or multinucleated giantcell infiltration. Periportal, subcapsular fibrosis was also found. In group IV and V, the findings were similarto those of group II, though additional fat vacuoles in fibrotic or necrotic areas, foreign body reaction to fatvacuole, regenerating nodule and calcification were also observed. CONCLUSION: L-PEI is more useful for thedetection by CT of an injection site than PEI alone, and with regard to CT and histopathologic findings, there wasno significant difference between the 5% and 10% Lipiodol-ethanol groups. Compared to PEI, L-PEI provoked nosighificant additional hepatic injury; only fatty change and foreign body reaction were noted. Thus, L-PEI is moreuseful than PEI for the management of HCC.
Animals ; Contrast Media ; Ethanol* ; Ethiodized Oil* ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Liver* ; Macrophages ; Necrosis ; Portal Vein ; Rabbits ; Vacuoles ; Vena Cava, Inferior

beta-Glucosidase, which hydrolyzes cellobiose into two glucoses, plays an important role in the process of saccharification of the lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, we optimized the activity of beta-glucosidase of brown-rot fungus Fomitopsis pinicola KCTC 6208 using the response surface methodology (RSM) with various concentrations of glucose, yeast extract and ascorbic acid, which are the most significant nutrients for activity of beta-glucosidase. The highest activity of beta-glucosidase was achieved 3.02% of glucose, 4.35% of yeast extract, and 7.41% ascorbic acid where ascorbic acid was most effective. The maximum activity of beta-glucosidase predicted by the RSM was 15.34 U/mg, which was similar to the experimental value 14.90 U/mg at the 16th day of incubation. This optimized activity of beta-glucosidase was 23.6 times higher than the preliminary activity value, 0.63 U/mg, and was also much higher than previous values reported in other fungi strains. Therefore, a simplified medium supplemented with a cheap vitamin source, such as ascorbic acid, could be a cost effective mean of increasing beta-glucosidase activity.
Ascorbic Acid ; beta-Glucosidase* ; Biomass ; Cellobiose ; Coriolaceae* ; Fungi* ; Glucose ; Vitamins ; Yeasts

PURPOSE: We studied the risk factors for loco-regional recurrence and distant metastasis in patients following treatment of operable breast carcinoma with a modified radical mastectomy. METHODS: 374 breast cancer patients were treated by modified radical mastectomy between 1989 and 1999 at the Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine. The median age of the patients was 48.3 years old. The duration of the mean follow up period was 53.6 months. By reviewing the patients' medical records, we constructed a database cataloguing disease recurrence, age, menstruation, pathology, tumor size, nodal status, stage and the presence of hormonal receptor. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS for Windows 9.0. RESULTS: Of the original 374 patients screened, one was excluded for the development of bone metastasis preoperatively. Within the remaining patients, 61 (16.3%) experienced recurrence following surgery. Among the recurred patients, loco-regional recurrence developed in 27 patients (7.5%) and distant metastases in 33 patients (9.1%). The 5 year survival rate was 90.5% in non-recurred patients, 34.9% in locoregionally recurred patients and 30.0% in systematically recurred patients respectively (p=0.00). On the multivariate analysis, tumor size (T stage), lymph node status (N stage) and overall pathologic stage were associated with loco-regional recurrence and the absence of estrogen receptor was associated with distant metastasis following the mastectomy. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for loco-regional recurrence following modified radical mastectomy were tumor size and nodal status. Moreover, distant metastasis was more frequent in patients lacking estrogen receptor. Due to the poor survival rate of the loco-regionally recurred patients, we should regard local recurrence as a poor prognostic sign.
Risk Factors ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Breast Neoplasms

Gangliocytic paraganglioma (GP) is an extremely rare tumor that mostly occurs in the periampullary area of the duodenum. It is characterized by benign behavior and favorable outcomes, but sometimes shows regional lymph node dissemination. GP consist of three characteristic histological components: epithelioid, spindle, and ganglion cells. Therefore, it is often misdiagnosed as a neuroendocrine tumor when only endoscopic forceps biopsy is performed. The clinical management of GP has not yet been standardized. This case report describes an asymptomatic patient who was initially diagnosed with a grade-1 neuroendocrine tumor, but was confirmed as having benign GP after endoscopic papillectomy. Complete en-bloc resection was performed for this patient, without any significant adverse events. At a 6-month follow-up assessment, the patient remained asymptomatic and there was no evidence of recurrence.
Ampulla of Vater* ; Biopsy ; Duodenum ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Paraganglioma* ; Recurrence ; Surgical Instruments

PURPOSE: We studied the risk factors for loco-regional recurrence and distant metastasis in patients following treatment of operable breast carcinoma with a modified radical mastectomy. METHODS: 374 breast cancer patients were treated by modified radical mastectomy between 1989 and 1999 at the Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine. The median age of the patients was 48.3 years old. The duration of the mean follow up period was 53.6 months. By reviewing the patients' medical records, we constructed a database cataloguing disease recurrence, age, menstruation, pathology, tumor size, nodal status, stage and the presence of hormonal receptor. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS for Windows 9.0. RESULTS: Of the original 374 patients screened, one was excluded for the development of bone metastasis preoperatively. Within the remaining patients, 61 (16.3%) experienced recurrence following surgery. Among the recurred patients, loco-regional recurrence developed in 27 patients (7.5%) and distant metastases in 33 patients (9.1%). The 5 year survival rate was 90.5% in non-recurred patients, 34.9% in loco- regionally recurred patients and 30.0% in systematically recurred patients respectively (p=0.00). On the multivariate analysis, tumor size (T stage), lymph node status (N stage) and overall pathologic stage were associated with loco-re-gional recurrence and the absence of estrogen receptor was associated with distant metastasis following the mastectomy. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for loco-regional recurrence following modified radical mastectomy were tumor size and nodal status. Moreover, distant metastasis was more frequent in patients lacking estrogen receptor. Due to the poor survival rate of the loco-regionally recurred patients, we should regard local recurrence as a poor prognostic sign.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Estrogens ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Mastectomy ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical* ; Medical Records ; Menstruation ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pathology ; Recurrence* ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: We studied the risk factors for loco-regional recurrence and distant metastasis in patients following treatment of operable breast carcinoma with a modified radical mastectomy. METHODS: 374 breast cancer patients were treated by modified radical mastectomy between 1989 and 1999 at the Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine. The median age of the patients was 48.3 years old. The duration of the mean follow up period was 53.6 months. By reviewing the patients' medical records, we constructed a database cataloguing disease recurrence, age, menstruation, pathology, tumor size, nodal status, stage and the presence of hormonal receptor. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS for Windows 9.0. RESULTS: Of the original 374 patients screened, one was excluded for the development of bone metastasis preoperatively. Within the remaining patients, 61 (16.3%) experienced recurrence following surgery. Among the recurred patients, loco-regional recurrence developed in 27 patients (7.5%) and distant metastases in 33 patients (9.1%). The 5 year survival rate was 90.5% in non-recurred patients, 34.9% in loco- regionally recurred patients and 30.0% in systematically recurred patients respectively (p=0.00). On the multivariate analysis, tumor size (T stage), lymph node status (N stage) and overall pathologic stage were associated with loco-re-gional recurrence and the absence of estrogen receptor was associated with distant metastasis following the mastectomy. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for loco-regional recurrence following modified radical mastectomy were tumor size and nodal status. Moreover, distant metastasis was more frequent in patients lacking estrogen receptor. Due to the poor survival rate of the loco-regionally recurred patients, we should regard local recurrence as a poor prognostic sign.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Estrogens ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Mastectomy ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical* ; Medical Records ; Menstruation ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pathology ; Recurrence* ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

Perianal fistulizing diseases, namely perianal fistulas and/or abscesses, are well-known complications of Crohn's disease (CD). These are known to develop more frequently in Asian children with CD, especially in the early stages of the disease course. Approximately half of the pediatric CD cases in Korea present with perianal fistulizing diseases at diagnosis. We report a rare case of a 12-year-old boy with CD with an incidental discovery of a perianal abscess on pelvic magnetic resonance imaging during CD diagnosis. No symptoms or signs of perianal fistulizing disease were identified. The early diagnosis of the perianal abscess enabled timely and effective treatment. Considering the high incidence of concomitant perianal CD in Korean children at diagnosis, perianal imaging may be useful and should be considered during diagnostic evaluation, even in patients with no subjective or objective findings indicating perianal CD.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We explored Korean physicians’ policies for surveillance of colorectal cancer (CRC) after curative surgery. METHODS: Web-based self-report questionnaires were developed. Invitations to participate were emailed to physicians who diagnosed and treated CRC from October 1 to November 15, 2015. The questionnaire consisted of the role doctors played in the surveillance, examination of surveillance, and duration of postoperative surveillance according to CRC stage or primary site of the cancer. RESULTS: Ninety-one physicians participated in the online survey, and 78 completed the survey. Sixty-seven participants (13%) answered “up to 5 years” for stage I surveillance duration; and 11 (13%) responded with a duration of > 5 years for stage I. A total of 61 (75%) responded with a surveillance duration of up to 5 years for stage II; and 19 (24%) responded with a duration of > 5 years for stage II. Sixty-seven (97%) and 61 (91%) physicians monitored patients with stage II/III every 3 or 6 months by laboratory examination and by abdominopelvic computed tomography scan for the first year, respectively. A total of 43 (53%) responded with a surveillance duration of up to 5 years for stage IV; and 46 (46%) responded with a duration of > 5 years for stage IV after curative resection. CONCLUSIONS: Korean physicians mostly followed up CRC using intensive postoperative surveillance. In preference to monitoring over a comparatively shorter period of time, the physicians tended to prefer monitoring patients post-operatively over a > 5 year period, particularly in cases of advanced-stage CRC.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Electronic Mail ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to report real life experiences of sorafenib therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea, using a subset of data from GIDEON (Global Investigation of Therapeutic Decisions in HCC and of Its Treatment with Sorafenib; a large, prospective, observational study). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2009 and April 2012, a total of 497 patients were enrolled from 11 sites in Korea. Of these, 482 patients were evaluable for safety analyses. Case report forms of paper or electronic version were used to record safety and efficacy data from all patients. RESULTS: More patients of Child-Pugh A received sorafenib for > 8 weeks than did patients of Child-Pugh B (55.5% vs. 34.3%). Child-Pugh score did not appear to influence the starting dose of sorafenib, and approximately 70% of patients both in Child-Pugh A and B groups received the recommended initial daily dose of 800 mg (69.0% and 69.5%, respectively). The median overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP) were 8.5 months and 2.5 months. In Child-Pugh A patients, the median OS and TTP were 10.2 months and 2.5 months. The most frequent treatment-emergent drug-related adverse event was hand-foot skin reaction (31.7%), followed by diarrhea (18.0%). The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar in both Child-Pugh A (85.4%) and Child-Pugh B (84.8%) patients. CONCLUSION: Sorafenib was well tolerated by Korean HCC patients in clinical settings, and the safety profile did not appear to differ by Child-Pugh status. Survival benefit in Korean patients was in line with that of a previous pivotal phase III trial (SHARP).
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Life Change Events ; Prospective Studies ; Skin

We report here a rare case of mesenteric Castleman's disease presenting as a mesenteric mass. A 13-year-old female child was admitted to our hospital complaining of intermittent vague abdominal pain. She had hypochromic anemia, thrombocytosis and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Ultrasonography and computed tomography indicated an intra- abdominal mass might represent a lymphoma or gastrointestinal stromal tumor or leiomyoma, but the definitive preoperative diagnosis couldn't be confirmed. The surgical resection of the mass revealed the mesenteric hyaline vascular- type Castleman's disease.
Adolescent ; Female ; Giant Lymph Node ; Humans ; *Mesentery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed