Purpose: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the prognostic value of AFP levels in patients who achieved complete response (CR) to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for HCC. Materials and Methods: Between 2005 and 2018, 890 patients with HCC who achieved a CR to TACE were recruited. An AFP responder was defined as a patient who showed elevated levels of AFP (>10 ng/mL) during TACE, but showed normalization or a >50% reduction in AFP levels after achieving a CR. Results: Among the recruited patients, 569 (63.9%) with naïve HCC and 321 (36.1%) with recurrent HCC after complete resection were treated. Before TACE, 305 (34.3%) patients had multiple tumors, 219 (24.6%) had a maximal tumor size >3 cm, and 22 (2.5%) had portal vein tumor thrombosis. The median AFP level after achieving a CR was 6.36 ng/mL. After a CR, 473 (53.1%) patients experienced recurrence, and 417 (46.9%) died [median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 16.3 and 62.8 months, respectively]. High AFP levels at CR (>20 ng/mL) were independently associated with a shorter PFS [hazard ratio (HR)=1.403] and OS (HR=1.284), together with tumor multiplicity at TACE (HR=1.518 and 1.666, respectively). AFP non-responders at CR (76.2%, n=359 of 471) showed a shorter PFS (median 10.5 months vs. 15.5 months, HR=1.375) and OS (median 41.4 months vs. 61.8 months, HR=1.424) than AFP responders (all p=0.001). Conclusion High AFP levels and AFP non-responders were independently associated with poor outcomes after TACE. AFP holds clinical implications for detailed risk stratification upon achieving a CR after TACE.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the associations between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and long-term cardiovascular outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or heart valve surgery (HVS). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed and compared all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular events in 461 patients who underwent CABG and 104 patients who underwent HVS. Results: During a mean±standard deviation follow-up duration of 7.6±3.8 years, there were 187 all-cause deaths, 97 cardiovascular deaths, 127 major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), 11 myocardial infarctions, one unstable angina, 70 strokes, 30 hospitalizations due to heart failure, 101 atrial fibrillation, and 33 coronary revascularizations. The incidence of all-cause mortality after CABG was significantly higher in patients with SCH (n=36, 55.4%) than in euthyroid patients (n=120, 30.3%), with a hazard ratio of 1.70 (95% confidence interval, 1.10 to 2.63; P=0.018) after adjustment for age, sex, current smoking status, body mass index, underlying diseases, left ventricular dysfunction, and emergency operation. Interestingly, low total triiodothyronine (T3) levels in euthyroid patients who underwent CABG were significantly associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and MACE, but those associations were not observed in HVS patients. Both free thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in euthyroid patients were not related with any cardiovascular outcomes in either the CABG or HVS group. Conclusion SCH or low total T3 might be associated with a poor prognosis after CABG, but not after HVS, implying that preoperative thyroid hormonal status may be important in ischemic heart disease patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the hemodynamic risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), we analyzed the characteristics of descending aorta (DA) blood flow in preterm neonates, who later developed NEC. METHODS: This was an observational case-control study on 53 preterm neonates at a tertiary referral center. Clinical and echocardiographic data were collected from 23 preterm neonates with NEC (NEC group), and compared with those of 30 preterm neonates without NEC (control group). Echocardiography was done at a median (interquartile range) of 5 (3–9) days after birth and 2 (1–2.5) days before the diagnosis of NEC. RESULTS: Basic clinical characteristics including gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score, breast feeding status, use of umbilical catheters, and mode of invasive ventilator care were similar between the groups. Compared with the control group, the lowest diastolic velocity of DA was significantly decreased, whereas the diastolic reverse flow and the ratio of diastolic reverse to systolic forward flows were significantly increased in the NEC group. In addition, the resistive index (RI) of DA was significantly increased in the NEC group and showed a positive association with the development of NEC. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that increasing RI of DA was an independent risk factor for the development of NEC (P=0.008). CONCLUSION: Significant changes in DA flow characteristics including decreased diastolic velocity and increased diastolic reverse flow along with increased peripheral vascular resistance were observed before the development of NEC in preterm neonates. These findings may help clinicians stratify in advance neonates at a risk of developing NEC and may help improve outcomes in these neonates.
Aorta, Thoracic* ; Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Breast Feeding ; Case-Control Studies ; Catheters ; Critical Care ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing* ; Gestational Age ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Logistic Models ; Parturition ; Risk Factors ; Splanchnic Circulation ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Vascular Resistance ; Ventilators, Mechanical

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of abdominal sonography in the diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 51 neonates who were diagnosed with NEC in the neonatal intensive care unit at Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital of the Catholic University in Korea between January 2008 and December 2012. The neonates underwent abdominal ultrasonography on the day of their diagnosis and on the third day after diagnosis. Simple abdominal radiography was performed on the same day as the sonography. The neonates were diagnosed with NEC in accordance with the abdominal sonographic findings. Abdominal radiography and sonography were used to assess the NEC stages in the neonates. RESULTS: On the day of NEC diagnosis by abdominal sonography, 50 neonates were diagnosed with stage II NEC and 1 was diagnosed with stage III NEC. However, simple radiography diagnosed 49 neonates with stage I NEC, 1 with stage II NEC, and 1 with stage III NEC. On the third day after NEC diagnosis by abdominal sonography, 48 neonates were diagnosed with stage II NEC and 3 were diagnosed with stage III NEC. On the other hand, simple radiography diagnosed 26 neonates with stage I NEC, 24 with stage II NEC, and 1 with stage III NEC. CONCLUSION: Abdominal sonography can be used as a tool for accurately diagnosing NEC and treating neonates showing ambiguous symptoms during the early stages of NEC.
Diagnosis* ; Early Diagnosis ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing* ; Hand ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Radiography ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the perinatal risk factors for severity of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) and to study the following neurodevelopmental outcomes depending on the degree of IVH severity. METHODS: The retrospective study included 145 VLBWIs who were admitted at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital between May of 2009 and April of 2013. Prenatal, obstetric and postnatal risk factors for IVH were investigated. VLBWIs were divided into the group of IVH grade 1-2 and IVH grade 3-4. During this study period, 26 VLBWIs were died and 11 VLBWIs were lost to followed up, thereby 108 infants were included in the final analysis. They were regularly followed up and assessed for presence of major neurodevelopmental impairments including cognitive impairment, cerebral palsy, visual deficit, hearing deficit, and epilepsy. Among 108 infants, 23 (21.3%) patients had neurodevelopmental impairments. RESULTS: The lower gestational age and birth weight were significant prenatal risk factors for severe IVH. Lower Apgar score at 1 and 5 min, hypotension/shock, higher levels of partial pressure of carbon dioxide, presence of patent ductus arteriosus, pneumothorax, thrombocytopenia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia were significant postnatal risk factors for severe IVH. After multiple logistic regression analysis, gestational age, birth weight, and hypotension/shock were independent risk factors for severe IVH. The incidence of major neurodevelopmental impairments were also significantly higher in VLBWIs who survived after severe IVH. CONCLUSION: In addition to preterm birth, minimizing hypotension/shock, the risk factor of severe IVH, is important to prevent major neurodevelopmental impairments in VLBWIs.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Carbon Dioxide ; Cerebral Palsy ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; Epilepsy ; Gestational Age ; Hearing ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight* ; Logistic Models ; Partial Pressure ; Pneumothorax ; Premature Birth ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Seoul ; Thrombocytopenia

PURPOSE: In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of regulated negative pressure vacuum-assisted wound therapy for inguinal lymphatic complications in critically ill, liver transplant recipients. METHODS: The great saphenous vein was harvested for hepatic vein reconstruction during liver transplantation in 599 living-donor liver transplant recipients. Fourteen of the recipients (2.3%) developed postoperative inguinal lymphatic complications and were treated with negative pressure wound therapy, and they were included in this study. RESULTS: The average total duration of negative pressure wound therapy was 23 days (range, 11 to 42 days). Complete resolution of the lymphatic complications and wound healing were achieved in all 14 patients, 5 of whom were treated in hospital and 9 as outpatients. There was no clinically detectable infection, bleeding or recurrence after an average follow-up of 27 months (range, 7 to 36 months). CONCLUSION: Negative pressure wound therapy is an effective, readily-available treatment option that is less invasive than exploration and ligation of leaking lymphatics and provides good control of drainage and rapid wound closure in critically ill patients.
Critical Illness ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Ligation ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Outpatients ; Recurrence ; Saphenous Vein ; Transplants ; Wound Healing

PURPOSE: Extremely-low-birth-weight infants (ELBWIs), especially those < or =24 gestational weeks (GW), presented extremes in IWL and changes of water balance. The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively investigate fluid and electrolyte balance in infants of < or =24-GW during the first postnatal week under high humidification. METHODS: Medical records of extremely-low-birth-weight infants (ELBWIs) who were born and admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Samsung Medical Center during March 2004-September 2010 were reviewed. Fluid intake, urine output, insensible water loss (IWL), and electrolyte balance of 22-GW (n=14), 23-GW (n=40), and 24-GW (n=67) infants nursed in high humidity (95%) were compared with > or =26-GW (n=65) infants nursed in 60% humidity. RESULTS: Survival rate until discharge was 33%, 82%, 75%, and 89.3% in 22-GW, 23-GW, 24-GW, and > or =26-GW infants, respectively. Fluid intake and IWL was higher in 22-GW and 23-WG, but not different in 24-GW, than in > or =26-GW infants. At postnatal days (P) 3-5, the urine output was significantly lower in > or =26-GW infants than in the other age groups. Serum sodium level was significantly higher in 22-, 23-, and 24-GW (P1-2) than in > or =26-GW infants. Hypernatremia (>150 mEq/dl sodium) was more frequent in 22-GW (71%), 23-GW (41%), and 24-GW (21%) than in > or =26-GW infants (14%). CONCLUSION: High-humidity environments significantly decreased fluid intake and improved electrolyte imbalance in 24-GW, but not 22- and 23-GW, infants. Increased IWL in the latter might be related to more immature skin, and implicates the need for additional nurturing conditions.
Apnea ; Electrolytes ; Humans ; Humidity ; Hypernatremia ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Skin ; Sodium ; Survival Rate ; Water Loss, Insensible ; Water-Electrolyte Balance

Recent evidence has suggested that human skin fibroblasts may represent a novel source of therapeutic stem cells. In this study, we report a 3-stage method to induce the differentiation of skin fibroblasts into insulin-producing cells (IPCs). In stage 1, we establish the isolation, expansion and characterization of mesenchymal stem cells from human labia minora dermis-derived fibroblasts (hLMDFs) (stage 1: MSC expansion). hLMDFs express the typical mesenchymal stem cell marker proteins and can differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes or muscle cells. In stage 2, DMEM/F12 serum-free medium with ITS mix (insulin, transferrin, and selenite) is used to induce differentiation of hLMDFs into endoderm-like cells, as determined by the expression of the endoderm markers Sox17, Foxa2, and PDX1 (stage 2: mesenchymal-endoderm transition). In stage 3, cells in the mesenchymal-endoderm transition stage are treated with nicotinamide in order to further differentiate into self-assembled, 3-dimensional islet cell-like clusters that express multiple genes related to pancreatic beta-cell development and function (stage 3: IPC). We also found that the transplantation of IPCs can normalize blood glucose levels and rescue glucose homeostasis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. These results indicate that hLMDFs have the capacity to differentiate into functionally competent IPCs and represent a potential cell-based treatment for diabetes mellitus.
Animals ; Biological Markers/metabolism ; *Cell Culture Techniques ; *Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dermis/*cytology/drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/*surgery ; Female ; Fibroblasts/*cytology/drug effects ; Genitalia, Female/*cytology ; Glucose/metabolism ; Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta/metabolism ; Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin/pharmacology/secretion ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/*cytology/metabolism ; *Islets of Langerhans Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/*cytology/drug effects/metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Niacinamide/pharmacology ; Recovery of Function ; SOXF Transcription Factors/metabolism ; Sodium Selenite/pharmacology ; Trans-Activators/metabolism ; Transferrin/pharmacology

No abstract available.
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; Ascites/diagnosis/prevention & control/therapy ; Cholagogues and Choleretics/therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver/diagnosis/diet therapy ; Fatty Liver, Alcoholic/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Hemorrhage/prevention & control/therapy ; Hepatic Encephalopathy/diagnosis/prevention & control/therapy ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology/*therapy ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary/drug therapy ; Vasodilator Agents/therapeutic use

PURPOSE: Flexible bronchoscopy is effectively used in the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases in children. This report attempted to analyze the indication, effectiveness, and complications of bronchoscopy in children who visited a single tertiary care, university-based hospital in Korea. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of the medical records of a total of 100 cases of flexible bronchoscopy that were performed at the Department of Pediatrics of the Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital from April 8, 2007 to June 16, 2010. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients (48 males and 37 females) were involved in the study. The range in age was 5 days old to 18 years old. Eighty cases were for diagnosis, 7 cases for treatment, and 13 cases for both. The purpose of flexible bronchoscopy was accomplished in 67 of 100 cases. In 60 cases where bronchoalveolar lavage was provided, microbial organisms were identified in 38 cases. Minor complications were observed in 12 cases. CONCLUSION: Pediatric flexible bronchoscopy is shown to be an effective and safe diagnostic and interventional tool, even in young or immunocompromised hosts. This study also found that children under one year of age were more frequently treated with bronchoscopy and that the detection rate in microbiological diagnosis was improved due to the introduction of the virus polymerase chain reaction method.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Bronchoscopy ; Child ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Pediatrics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Healthcare ; Viruses