OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic performance of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and DCE ultrasound (DCE-US) for predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This Institutional Review Board-approved prospective study was performed between 2014 and 2016. Thirty-nine women with breast cancer underwent DCE-US and DCE-MRI before the NAC, follow-up DCE-US after the first cycle of NAC, and follow-up DCE-MRI after the second cycle of NAC. DCE-MRI parameters (transfer constant [Ktrans], reverse constant [kep], and leakage space [Ve]) were assessed with histograms. From DCE-US, peak-enhancement, the area under the curve, wash-in rate, wash-out rate, time to peak, and rise time (RT) were obtained. After surgery, all the imaging parameters and their changes were compared with histopathologic response using the Miller-Payne Grading (MPG) system. Data from minor and good responders were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum test, chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used for assessing diagnostic performance to predict good response. RESULTS: Twelve patients (30.8%) showed a good response (MPG 4 or 5) and 27 (69.2%) showed a minor response (MPG 1–3). The mean, 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles of Ktrans and Kep of post-NAC DCE-MRI differed between the two groups. These parameters showed fair to good diagnostic performance for the prediction of response to NAC (AUC 0.76–0.81, p ≤ 0.007). Among DCE-US parameters, the percentage change in RT showed fair prediction (AUC 0.71, p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: Quantitative analysis of DCE-MRI and DCE-US was helpful for early prediction of response to NAC.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Drug Therapy* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Ultrasonography*

Congenital chloride diarrhea (CLD) is a rare autosomal recessive disease that is difficult to diagnose. CLD requires early treatment to correct electrolyte imbalance and alkalosis and to prevent severe dehydration. Renal injury is clearly associated with defective electrolyte balance induced by CLD, particularly during the first months or years of life. A 7-year-old boy was diagnosed with CLD following detection of a homozygous mutation (c.2063-1G>T) in SLC26A3 at 6 months of age. During treatment with electrolyte supplements, mild proteinuria was detected at 8 months of age, and is still present. Renal biopsy showed the presence of focal renal dysplasia, with metaplastic cartilage and mononuclear cell infiltration, calcification, and fibrosis in the interstitium. Up to two-thirds of the glomeruli exhibited global obsolescence, mostly aggregated in the dysplastic area. In nondysplastic areas, the glomeruli were markedly increased in size and severely hypercellular, with increased mesangial matrix, and displayed segmental sclerosis. The marked glomerular hypertrophy with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis suggested a compensatory reaction to the severe nephron loss or glomerular obsolescence associated with renal dysplasia, with superimposed by CLD aggravating the tubulointerstitial damage.
Alkalosis ; Biopsy ; Cartilage ; Child ; Dehydration ; Diarrhea* ; Fibrosis ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Male ; Nephrons ; Proteinuria ; Sclerosis ; Water-Electrolyte Balance

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Waist circumference (WC) is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome and is related to insulin resistance (IR) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The purpose of this study was to determine the association between WC and IR and NAFLD in apparently healthy Korean adults. METHODS: The volunteers included in this cross-sectional study comprised 9,159 adults (5,052 men, 4,107 women) who participated in a comprehensive health checkup program. IR was evaluated by the homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) and was considered to be present when the HOMA-IR score was >2. NAFLD was evaluated by ultrasound examination. Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was defined as >40 IU/L in men and >35 IU/L in women. Logistic regression was performed to determine the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for NAFLD, IR, and ALT according to categorized levels of WC. RESULTS: NAFLD was found in 2,553 (27.9%) of the participants (82.6% men, 17.4% women), while IR and elevated ALT were found in 17.2% (68.1% men, 31.9% women) and 10% (83% men, 17% women), respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, the prevalence of NAFLD, IR, and elevated ALT was significantly associated with increases in WC quartile: highest quartile for NAFLD in men, OR=15.539, 95% CI=12.687-19.033; highest quartile for NAFLD in women, OR=48.732, 95% CI=23.918-99.288 (P<0.001); and highest quartile for IR in men, OR=17.576, 95% CI=13.283-23.255; highest quartile for IR in women, OR=11.078, 95% CI=7.813-15.708 (P<0.001); highest quartile for elevated ALT in men, OR=7.952, 95% CI=6.046-10.459; and highest quartile for elevated ALT in women, OR=8.487, 95% CI=4.679-15.395 (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: WC contributes to IR and NAFLD in apparently healthy Korean adults, and thus may be an important factor in the development of IR and NAFLD.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Area Under Curve ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fatty Liver/*diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; *Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; *Waist Circumference

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Few studies have assessed the prognostic value of the primary tumor maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) measured by 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose PET-CT for patients with bile duct and gallbladder cancer. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 61 patients with confirmed bile duct and gallbladder cancer who underwent FDG PET-CT in Kangbuk Samsung Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) from April 2008 to April 2011. Prognostic significance of SUVmax and other clinicopathological variables was assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were diagnosed as common bile duct cancer, 17 as hilar bile duct cancer, 12 as intrahepatic bile duct cancer, and nine as gallbladder cancer. In univariate analysis, diagnosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer, mass forming type, poorly differentiated cell type, nonsurgical treatment, advanced American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging and primary tumor SUVmax were significant predictors of poor overall survival. In multivariate analysis adjusted for age and sex, primary tumor SUVmax (hazard ratio [HR], 4.526; 95% CI, 1.813-11.299), advanced AJCC staging (HR, 4.843; 95% CI, 1.760-13.328), and nonsurgical treatment (HR, 6.029; 95% CI, 1.989-18.271) were independently associated with poor overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Primary tumor SUVmax measured by FDG PET-CT is an independent and significant prognostic factor for overall survival in bile duct and gallbladder cancer.
Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/*diagnosis/mortality/radionuclide imaging ; Cholangiocarcinoma/diagnosis/mortality/radionuclide imaging ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/diagnostic use/metabolism/standards ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/*diagnosis/mortality/radionuclide imaging ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/mortality/radionuclide imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Positron-Emission Tomography/standards ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Radiopharmaceuticals/diagnostic use/metabolism/standards ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/standards

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic gastritis is a common finding during endoscopy and it is very important to describe it correctly. This study was designed to evaluate the distribution of endoscopic gastritis and the differences according to age, sex or area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A clinical analysis was conducted on 25,536 subjects who had undergone an upper endoscopy for routine health check-up. Endoscopic gastritis was classified into four types, superficial gastritis, erosive gastritis, atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. The distribution of the four types of gastritis was evaluated according to sex, age and area. RESULTS: 51.6% of the patients had experienced at least one of the symptoms (epigastric pain or discomfort, soarness, dyspepsia, abdominal pain) on at least a few occasions during the previous year. The incidence of normal gastric finding was 3,593 (14.1%). 21,943 (85.9%) subjects have at least more than one of endoscopic gastritis. The number of cases with superficial gastritis was 7,983 (31.3%), erosive gastritis 6,054 (23.7%), atrophic gastritis 6,918 (27.1%), and intestinal metaplasia 1,181 (7.1%). Erosive gastritis, atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia were more frequent in men than women (P<0.001) and in the older age group (> or =60 years) than younger age group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of endoscopic gastritis was very common, 85.9%. In addition, erosive gastritis, atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia were more frequent in men and in the older age group, which is similar to gastric cancer or peptic ulcer. Cautious regular endoscopic follow-up might be necessary regardless of gastrointestinal symptoms in Korea.
Dyspepsia ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Gastritis ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Metaplasia ; Peptic Ulcer ; Prevalence ; Stomach Neoplasms

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic gastritis is a common finding during endoscopy and it is very important to describe it correctly. This study was designed to evaluate the distribution of endoscopic gastritis and the differences according to age, sex or area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A clinical analysis was conducted on 25,536 subjects who had undergone an upper endoscopy for routine health check-up. Endoscopic gastritis was classified into four types, superficial gastritis, erosive gastritis, atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. The distribution of the four types of gastritis was evaluated according to sex, age and area. RESULTS: 51.6% of the patients had experienced at least one of the symptoms (epigastric pain or discomfort, soarness, dyspepsia, abdominal pain) on at least a few occasions during the previous year. The incidence of normal gastric finding was 3,593 (14.1%). 21,943 (85.9%) subjects have at least more than one of endoscopic gastritis. The number of cases with superficial gastritis was 7,983 (31.3%), erosive gastritis 6,054 (23.7%), atrophic gastritis 6,918 (27.1%), and intestinal metaplasia 1,181 (7.1%). Erosive gastritis, atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia were more frequent in men than women (P<0.001) and in the older age group (> or =60 years) than younger age group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of endoscopic gastritis was very common, 85.9%. In addition, erosive gastritis, atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia were more frequent in men and in the older age group, which is similar to gastric cancer or peptic ulcer. Cautious regular endoscopic follow-up might be necessary regardless of gastrointestinal symptoms in Korea.
Dyspepsia ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Gastritis ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Metaplasia ; Peptic Ulcer ; Prevalence ; Stomach Neoplasms

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The meaning of specialized intestinal metaplasia (SIM) in the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus (BE) is not clear. This study was designed to determine the clinical significance of SIM in the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biopsies were taken from 601 subjects with endoscopically suspected columnar-lined esophagus. Under light microscopy with Alcian-blue stain, SIM was identified. Demographic characteristics, gastroesophageal (GE) reflux symptoms and endoscopic findings were compared between the SIM-present group and the SIM-absent group. RESULTS: Among 601 subjects, 184 (30.6%) were confirmed by pathology to have SIM. Age over 40 years (P<0.001) and a medication history of proton pump inhibitor or H2 blocker were found more frequently in the SIM-present group (P=0.01) than in the SIM-absent group. Any of 7 GE reflux symptoms (heartburn, acid regurgitation, chest pain, hoarseness, globus sensation, cough and epigastric soreness) were more frequent in the SIM-present group than SIM-absent group (P<0.001). Specifically, heartburn, chest pain and cough were significantly more common in the SIM-present group. There was no clinically significant difference associated with endoscopic findings or other clinical characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: When subjects with endoscopically suspected BE are analyzed based on the presence or absence of SIM, the SIM-present group was significantly associated with GE reflux symptoms suggestive of frequent GE reflux. However, the presence of SIM did not correlate with endoscopic findings.
Barrett Esophagus ; Biopsy ; Chest Pain ; Cough ; Esophagus ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Heartburn ; Hoarseness ; Light ; Metaplasia ; Microscopy ; Prospective Studies ; Proton Pumps ; Sensation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the B-mode sonographic and sonoelastographic features of high risk lesions of the breast. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2009 to February 2010, 1390 patients with breast lesions underwent US-guided core-biopsy. Among them, 13 lesions were confirmed to be pure sclerosing adenosis by subsequent surgical excision or on imaging follow-up of more than 1 year. Two radiologists retrospectively analyzed the B-mode sonography according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System classification. The sonoelastographic images were classified into 5 elasticity scores according to the Itoh classification and the strain ratio between the mass and the surrounding fat tissue was reviewed. We considered the sonoelastographic patterns to be suspicious for the case with a score of 4 and 5 and a strain ratio of more than a 2.24. RESULTS: The common B-mode sonographic features of sclerosing adenosis were an irregular shape (69.2%, 9 of 13), an indistinct margin (92.3%, 12 of 13), hypoechogenicity (76.9%, 10 of 13) and category 4A, a low suspicion of malignancy (61.5%, 8 of 13). The common sonoelastographic features were a score of 2 (42%, 6 of 13) and a strain ratio < 2.24 (69.2%, 9 of 13). CONCLUSION: Sclerosing adenosis showed suspicious B-mode sonographic findings, but it had benign sonolastographic features.
Breast ; Elasticity ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Retrospective Studies ; Sprains and Strains

Gemella morbillorum is a normal flora of the oral cavity, upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, or genitourinary system. Human infection cause by G. morbillorum is very rare. Known predisposing conditions are intravenous drug abuse, alcoholism, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, renal disease and poor oral hygiene. Most reported cases are infective endocarditis and vasculitis. We experienced a case of liver abscess by G. morbillorum in a healthy young woman, who was treated successfully with antibiotics and drainage. We report this case along with a literature review.
Abscess ; Alcoholism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Drainage ; Endocarditis ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Gemella ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Abscess ; Mouth ; Oral Hygiene ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Respiratory System ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; Urogenital System ; Vasculitis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the factors which influence on the fixation failure after internal fixation using multiple cannulated screws in the patients with femoral neck fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninty-six patients (male: 63, female: 33) who underwent closed reduction and internal fixation of femoral neck fracture between Feb. 1994 and Jun. 2002 with use of multiple cannulated screws. The mean age was 68 years (17~90) and mean follow-up period was average 50 months (36 months~6 years). The fixation failure was defined by change in fracture position above 10 mm, change in each screws position above 5%, backing above 20 mm, or perforation of the head, respectively. They were evaluated with the age, gender, fracture type, accuracy of reduction, placement of screws, posterior comminution and also studied the risk factors which influenced nonunion and the development of avascular necrosis. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients out of 96 patients had radiographic signs of fixation failure. The incidence of nonunion in the fixation failure group was 41% (10/24) and AVN was 33% (8/24). There were statistically significant correlations between fixation failure and nonunion and that posterior comminution, poor reduction and improper placement of the screws were the major factors contributing to nonunion. CONCLUSION: In case of femoral neck fracture of internal fixation using multiple cannulated screws, posterior comminution, poor reduction and improper placement of the screws were the major factors contributing to nonunion and fixation failure.
Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures* ; Femur Neck* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Incidence ; Necrosis ; Risk Factors