OBJECTIVES: We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART) in 258 communities throughout Korea. METHODS: In August 2022, a survey was conducted among 10,000 household members aged 5 years and older, in households selected through two stage probability random sampling. During face-to-face household interviews, participants self-reported their health status, COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination history, and general characteristics. Subsequently, participants visited a community health center or medical clinic for blood sampling. Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to spike proteins (anti-S) and antibodies to nucleocapsid proteins (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 proteins using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. To estimate the population prevalence, the PROC SURVEYMEANS statistical procedure was employed, with weighting to reflect demographic data from July 2022. RESULTS: In total, 9,945 individuals from 5,041 households were surveyed across 258 communities, representing all basic local governments in Korea. The overall population-adjusted prevalence rates of anti-S and anti-N were 97.6% and 57.1%, respectively. Since the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has reported a cumulative incidence of confirmed cases of 37.8% through July 31, 2022, the proportion of unreported infections among all COVID-19 infection was suggested to be 33.9%. CONCLUSIONS The K-SEROSMART represents the first nationwide, community-based seroepidemiologic survey of COVID-19, confirming that most individuals possess antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and that a significant number of unreported cases existed. Furthermore, this study lays the foundation for a surveillance system to continuously monitor transmission at the community level and the response to COVID-19.

The sociomedical environment is changing. In the traditional physician-patient relationship, the physician was authoritative and the patient was obedient. The contractual relationship featured patient consent to the physician’s decision. Today, the physician must explain fully the planned medical treatment, and any alternative, to the patient, who has the right to choose her treatment after considering the benefits and side-effects. The Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology thus decided to standardize the surgical consent forms to meet the legal requirements of modern medicine, improve patient understanding of the surgical details, and protect medical staff from legal disputes. To determine the format and content, subcommittees for each cancer type collected and reviewed all relevant articles and the current consent forms of domestic medical institutions. After several meetings, 16 basic items to be included for each type of gynecologic cancer were selected. Also, to help patients understand the surgical details, figures were included. The revised forms were legally reviewed in terms of the appropriateness of the format and content. We also developed English versions to provide adequate information for foreign patients. We hope that these efforts will promote trust between patients and physicians, and contribute to effective treatment by laying a foundation of mutual respect.

The sociomedical environment is changing. In the traditional physician-patient relationship, the physician was authoritative and the patient was obedient. The contractual relationship featured patient consent to the physician’s decision. Today, the physician must explain fully the planned medical treatment, and any alternative, to the patient, who has the right to choose her treatment after considering the benefits and side-effects. The Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology (KSGO) thus decided to standardize the surgical consent forms to meet the legal requirements of modern medicine, improve patient understanding of the surgical details, and protect medical staff from legal disputes. To determine the format and content, subcommittees for each cancer type collected and reviewed all relevant articles and the current consent forms of domestic medical institutions. After several meetings, 16 basic items to be included for each type of gynecologic cancer were selected. Also, to help patients understand the surgical details, figures were included. The revised forms were legally reviewed in terms of the appropriateness of the format and content. We also developed English versions to provide adequate information for foreign patients. We hope that these efforts will promote trust between patients and physicians, and contribute to effective treatment by laying a foundation of mutual respect.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the risk factors and patterns of locoregional recurrence (LRR) after radical nephrectomy (RN) in patients with locally advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 245 patients who underwent RN for non-metastatic pT3-4 RCC from January 2006 to January 2016. We analyzed the risk factors associated with poor locoregional control using Cox regression. Anatomical mapping was performed on reference computed tomography scans showing intact kidneys. Results: The median follow-up duration was 56 months (range, 1 to 128 months). Tumor extension to renal vessels or the inferior vena cava (IVC) and Fuhrman’s nuclear grade IV were identified as independent risk factors of LRR. The 5-year actuarial LRR rates in groups with no risk factor, one risk factor, and two risk factors were 2.3%, 19.8%, and 30.8%, respectively (p < 0.001). The locations of LRR were distributed as follows: aortocaval area (n=2), paraaortic area (n=4), retrocaval area (n=5), and tumor bed (n=11). No LRR was observed above the celiac axis (CA) or under the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). Conclusion Tumor extension to renal vessels or the IVC and Fuhrman’s nuclear grade IV were the independent risk factors associated with LRR after RN for pT3-4 RCC. The locations of LRR after RN for RCC were distributed in the tumor bed and regional lymphatic area from the bifurcation of the CA to that of the IMA.

Purpose: Diagnostic biomarkers of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have been used for early detection to reduce its dismal survival rate. However, clinically feasible biomarkers are still rare. Therefore, in this study, we developed an automated multi-marker enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit using 3 biomarkers (leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein [LRG1], transthyretin [TTR], and CA 19-9) that were previously discovered and proposed a diagnostic model for PDAC based on this kit for clinical usage. Methods: Individual LRG1, TTR, and CA 19-9 panels were combined into a single automated ELISA panel and tested on 728 plasma samples, including PDAC (n = 381) and normal samples (n = 347). The consistency between individual panels of 3 biomarkers and the automated multi-panel ELISA kit were accessed by correlation. The diagnostic model was developed using logistic regression according to the automated ELISA kit to predict the risk of pancreatic cancer (high-, intermediate-, and low-risk groups). Results: The Pearson correlation coefficient of predicted values between the triple-marker automated ELISA panel and the former individual ELISA was 0.865. The proposed model provided reliable prediction results with a positive predictive value of 92.05%, negative predictive value of 90.69%, specificity of 90.69%, and sensitivity of 92.05%, which all simultaneously exceed 90% cutoff value. Conclusion This diagnostic model based on the triple ELISA kit showed better diagnostic performance than previous markers for PDAC. In the future, it needs external validation to be used in the clinic.

PURPOSE: High Gleason score (8 to 10) is a poor prognostic factor regardless of treatment. Pathological downgrading sometimes occurs in high grade prostate cancer. The aim of this study is to evaluate treatment outcomes in patients with high grade prostate cancer on biopsy who were pathological downgrading after radical prostatectomy (RP). The impact on outcomes according to changes in the Gleason score after RP was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 3,236 men who underwent RP between September 1995 and December 2014, 541 patients with biopsy Gleason score 8 to 10 were retrospectively reviewed. We analyzed incidence and biochemical recurrence (BCR) free probability in this downgraded group according to the Gleason grade of cancer in the RP specimen. RESULTS: Of 541 patients had a prostate biopsy Gleason score of 8 to 10. Two hundred ten patients showed pathological downgrading after RP (38.8%). Five-year BCR-free probability of patients who had Gleason score of 7 or less after RP was 46.8%. However, 5-year BCR-free probability of patients who remained Gleason scores 8 to 10 after RP was 28.5%. There was a significantly higher BCR-free probability in pathological downgrading group (p<0.001). On multivariate analysis, biopsy Gleason 8, lower PSA, clinical T2 stage was a significant predictor of downgrading. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 38.8% of patients with high grade prostate cancer had a Gleason score of 7 or less in the RP specimen. Downgraded prostate cancer had more favorable treatment outcome. Serum PSA, clinical stage and biopsy Gleason score were the predictive factors for pathological downgrading.
Biopsy* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Grading* ; Prostate* ; Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome*

PURPOSE: We compared biopsy results and surgical outcomes of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided biopsy with transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)-guided biopsy to demonstrate efficacy of MRI-guided biopsy on previous biopsy negative patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data of 120 patients who were categorized into MRI-guided biopsy groups (n=20) and TRUS-guided biopsy groups (n=100). All patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) and had undergone radical prostatectomy (RP) after MRI-guided or TRUS-guided repeat biopsy between January 2010 and March 2016. Detection rate of significant cancer and Gleason score upgrading and downgrading were examined, in addition to biopsy results and subsequent RP outcomes. RESULTS: Median values for prostate-specific antigen level of the TRUS-guided biopsy group and the MRI-guided biopsy group were 6.67 and 5.86 ng/mL (p=0.303), respectively. Median prostate volume of each group (34.1 mL vs. 23.5 mL, p=0.007), number of positive cores (2.0 vs. 3.0, p=0.001) and maximum cancer/core rate (30.0% vs. 60.0%, p<0.001) were statistically different. Positive core rates of each group were 21.9% and 87.1%, respectively. Pathologic T stage was the only variable that showed difference in surgical outcomes (p=0.002). Most of PCa was confirmed as clinically significant PCa after RP in MRI-guided biopsy group (95%). CONCLUSIONS: MRI-guided biopsy showed higher positive core rate and detection rate of clinically significant PCa than TRUS-guided biopsy in repeat biopsy setting. Prospective multicenter large-scale study and accumulation of data is expected to further define superiority of the MRI-guided biopsy.
Biopsy* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Grading ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To determine the negative predictive value (NPV) of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) for clinically significant cancer (CSC) based on the Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) version 2 in very low-risk or low-risk prostate cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 380 patients with low risk of prostate cancer who underwent mp-MRI before radical prostatectomy (RP) from 2011 to 2013. Of the 380 patients, 142 patients were in the very low risk group. CSC at RP was defined as follows: any T3−4, G3+4 with tumor volume>15%, G4+3 or higher. In the very low risk and low risk groups, we analyzed the rate of CSC according to PI-RADS score and calculated the NPV of mp-MRI for detection of CSC. RESULTS: In the low risk group, 20.8% (n=79) of patients had PI-RADS version 2 score 1–2 and 17.4% (n=66) of patients had PI-RADS version 2 score 3. In the very low risk group, 26.8% (n=38) of patients had PI-RADS version 2 score 1–2 and 17.6% (n=25) of patients had PI-RADS version 2 score 3 in the very low risk group. Rates of CSC were 33.7% (n=128) and 16.9% (n=24) in the low risk and very low risk groups, respectively. The NPV of MRI was 93.7% in the very low risk group and 78.6% in the low risk group. CONCLUSIONS: The NPV of PI-RADS for CSC is high in the very low risk group, but not in the low risk group. Further multicenter studies are needed to investigate the utility of PI-RADS version 2 for NPV.
Humans ; Information Systems* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Prostate* ; Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Retrospective Studies