Objectives: . Balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube (BDET) is widely recognized as a minimally invasive treatment for obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). We employed a Delphi consensus methodology to develop recommendations for the clinical management of BDET in cases of obstructive ETD. Methods: . A Delphi panel consisting of 26 expert physicians specializing in otology participated in two rounds of anonymous, iterative questionnaires. Consensus was defined as agreement from ≥70% of the panelists on a recommendation, while disagreement was defined as <70% agreement. The responses from the Delphi study were analyzed using both the content validity ratio and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. Results: . The panel finally evaluated 26 topics, reaching agreement on 9 and failing to reach consensus on 17 after two rounds. While consensus was not achieved regarding the postoperative follow-up period, a duration of 12 months was most commonly adopted. The Valsalva maneuver and questionnaire responses were identified as the most agreed-upon postoperative assessment tools following BDET. Conclusion . Consensus was reached on several recommendations for managing BEDT in obstructive ETD. This agreement will guide future research aimed at defining standard postoperative management for BEDT.

Objectives: . Balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube (BDET) is widely recognized as a minimally invasive treatment for obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). We employed a Delphi consensus methodology to develop recommendations for the clinical management of BDET in cases of obstructive ETD. Methods: . A Delphi panel consisting of 26 expert physicians specializing in otology participated in two rounds of anonymous, iterative questionnaires. Consensus was defined as agreement from ≥70% of the panelists on a recommendation, while disagreement was defined as <70% agreement. The responses from the Delphi study were analyzed using both the content validity ratio and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. Results: . The panel finally evaluated 26 topics, reaching agreement on 9 and failing to reach consensus on 17 after two rounds. While consensus was not achieved regarding the postoperative follow-up period, a duration of 12 months was most commonly adopted. The Valsalva maneuver and questionnaire responses were identified as the most agreed-upon postoperative assessment tools following BDET. Conclusion . Consensus was reached on several recommendations for managing BEDT in obstructive ETD. This agreement will guide future research aimed at defining standard postoperative management for BEDT.

Objectives: . Balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube (BDET) is widely recognized as a minimally invasive treatment for obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). We employed a Delphi consensus methodology to develop recommendations for the clinical management of BDET in cases of obstructive ETD. Methods: . A Delphi panel consisting of 26 expert physicians specializing in otology participated in two rounds of anonymous, iterative questionnaires. Consensus was defined as agreement from ≥70% of the panelists on a recommendation, while disagreement was defined as <70% agreement. The responses from the Delphi study were analyzed using both the content validity ratio and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. Results: . The panel finally evaluated 26 topics, reaching agreement on 9 and failing to reach consensus on 17 after two rounds. While consensus was not achieved regarding the postoperative follow-up period, a duration of 12 months was most commonly adopted. The Valsalva maneuver and questionnaire responses were identified as the most agreed-upon postoperative assessment tools following BDET. Conclusion . Consensus was reached on several recommendations for managing BEDT in obstructive ETD. This agreement will guide future research aimed at defining standard postoperative management for BEDT.

BACKGROUND: Admission blood glucose (BG) level is a predictor of mortality in critically ill patients with various conditions. However, limited data are available regarding this relationship in critically ill patients with cardiovascular diseases according to diabetic status. METHODS: A total of 1,780 patients (595 with diabetes) who were admitted to cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) were enrolled from a single center registry. Admission BG level was defined as maximal serum glucose level within 24 hours of admission. Patients were divided by admission BG level: group 1 (< 7.8 mmol/L), group 2 (7.8–10.9 mmol/L), group 3 (11.0–16.5 mmol/L), and group 4 (≥ 16.6 mmol/L). RESULTS: A total of 105 patients died in CICU (62 non-diabetic patients [5.2%] and 43 diabetic patients [7.9%]; P = 0.105). The CICU mortality rate increased with admission BG level (1.7%, 4.8%, 10.3%, and 18.8% from group 1 to group 4, respectively; P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, hypertension, mechanical ventilator, continuous renal replacement therapy, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score, and admission BG level significantly influenced CICU mortality in non-diabetic patients (group 1 vs. group 3: hazard ratio [HR], 3.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47–7.44; P = 0.004; group 1 vs. group 4: HR, 6.56; 95% CI, 2.76–15.58; P < 0.001). However, in diabetic patients, continuous renal replacement therapy and APACHE II score influenced CICU mortality but not admission BG level. CONCLUSION: Admission BG level was associated with increased CICU mortality in critically ill, non-diabetic patients admitted to CICU but not in diabetic patients.
APACHE ; Blood Glucose ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Critical Care ; Critical Illness ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intensive Care Units ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Ventilators, Mechanical

PURPOSE: We investigated the long-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) and open gastrectomy (OG) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) with a 5-year follow-up period.METHODS: Clinical data of 180 patients (109 LG and 71 OG) who underwent radical D2 gastrectomy for AGC at Gyeongsang National University Hospital between 2007 and 2009 were included. Survivals and predictors of these outcomes were analyzed.RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 54.3 months. Recurrence was observed in 68 patients (37.8%). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 52.2% for all patients, 39.4% in the OG group, and 60.6% in the LG group. The 5-year DFS rates for OG and LG with respect to pathological stage were stage I, 87.5% and 84.2%, respectively (P=0.684); stage II, 55.0% and 77.3%, respectively (P=0.032); and stage III, 23.3% and 34.8%, respectively (P=0.265). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 52.8% for all patients, 40.8% in the OG group, and 60.6% in the LG group. The 5-year OS rates for OG and LG with respect to pathological stage were stage I, 87.5% and 84.2%, respectively (P=0.753); stage II, 55.0% and 77.3%, respectively (P=0.034); and stage III, 25.6% and 34.8%, respectively (P=0.302). For survival, TMN cancer stage was statistically independent prognostic factors.CONCLUSION: Our analysis revealed that LG for AGC had acceptable long-term oncologic outcomes comparable to the outcomes of conventional OG. Cancer stage was independent risk factors associated with survival.
Cohort Studies ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is associated with many adverse clinical outcomes. The present study aimed to identify the prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients in Korea, evaluate the association between malnutrition and clinical outcomes, and ascertain the risk factors of malnutrition. METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study was performed with 300 patients recruited from among the patients admitted in 25 hospitals on January 6, 2014. Nutritional status was assessed by using the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Demographic characteristics and underlying diseases were compared according to nutritional status. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors of malnutrition. Clinical outcomes such as rate of admission in intensive care units, length of hospital stay, and survival rate were evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence of malnutrition in the hospitalized patients was 22.0%. Old age (≥ 70 years), admission for medical treatment or diagnostic work-up, and underlying pulmonary or oncological disease were associated with malnutrition. Old age and admission for medical treatment or diagnostic work-up were identified to be risk factors of malnutrition in the multivariate analysis. Patients with malnutrition had longer hospital stay (SGA A = 7.63 ± 6.03 days, B = 9.02 ± 9.96 days, and C = 12.18 ± 7.24 days, P = 0.018) and lower 90-day survival rate (SGA A = 97.9%, B = 90.7%, and C = 58.3%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Malnutrition was common in hospitalized patients, and resulted in longer hospitalization and associated lower survival rate. The rate of malnutrition tended to be higher when the patient was older than 70 years old or hospitalized for medical treatment or diagnostic work-up compared to elective surgery.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Logistic Models ; Malnutrition ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Capsule endoscopy (CE) is widely used. However, CE has limitations including incomplete examination, inadequate bowel preparation, and retention. The aim of this study was to estimate the indications for and detection, completion, and retention rates of small intestine CE based on the 10-year data from the Korean Capsule Endoscopy Registry. METHODS: Twenty-four hospitals participated in this study. Clinical information, such as reasons for CE, method and quality of bowel preparation, and incomplete examination and capsule retention rates, was collected and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 2,914 CEs were registered. The most common reason for CE was obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (59%). Significant lesions were detected in 66% of cases. Positive CE diagnosis occurred in 63% of cases. The preparation method did not significantly affect the quality of bowel preparation for CE. The overall incomplete rate was 33%, and was high in the elderly and those with poor bowel preparation. Capsule retention was 3% and high in patients with small bowel tumors and Crohn's disease and in children under 10 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: CE is a valuable technique; while the overall detection rate is high, incompletion and retention rates are also relatively high. CE should be carefully considered in the elderly and children less than 10 years of age, as well as in patients with small bowel tumors and Crohn's disease.
Aged ; Capsule Endoscopy* ; Child ; Crohn Disease ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intestine, Small

PURPOSE: To investigate whether secretion of human beta-defensin 3 (HBD-3) is induced by bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and to determine whether HBD-3 affects BCG internalization in bladder cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RTPCR analysis was used to determine whether HBD-3 mRNA increases after incubation with BCG. HBD-3 proteins in 5637 and T24 human bladder cancer cell lines were assayed by ELISA. The internalization rate was evaluated by double immunofluorescence assay and confocal microscopy to test the optimal dose of HBD-3 for BCG internalization. We also investigated the difference in internalization rates and cell viability between recombinant HBD-3 protein, anti-HBD-3 antibody, and HBD-3 plus anti-HBD-3 antibody pretreatments. RESULTS: BCG induced HBD-3 mRNA expression and HBD-3 production dose and time-dependently in bladder cancer cells and affected BCG internalization. Pretreatment with recombinant HBD-3 protein lowered internalization of BCG dose-dependently. Moreover, anti-HBD-3 antibody prevented the effect of HBD-3 on BCG internalization in bladder cancer cells. The internalization rate of BCG pretreated with anti-HBD-3 antibody was higher than that in the control. The BCG internalization rate in cells pretreated with anti-HBD-3 antibody plus recombinant HBD-3 protein was higher than that in the control. BCG decreased bladder cancer cell viability, and anti-HBD-3 antibody prevented the inhibitory role of HBD-3 on the anti-proliferative effects of M. bovis BCG in bladder cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder cancer cells produce HBD-3 when they are infected by BCG to defend themselves against BCG internalization, which plays an important role during the initiation and propagation of the immunotherapeutic response in bladder cancer cells.
Bacillus* ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans* ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Mycobacterium bovis ; RNA, Messenger ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics of colon cancers detected at the SOK Sokpeynhan Internal Medical Network, a nationwide system of primary health care institutions. METHODS: We analyzed 579 colon cancer patients diagnosed using colonoscopy at the SOK network from January 2011 through December 2012. Cancers from the rectum to the splenic flexure were classified as left colon cancer. Patients over 65 were classified as senior. RESULTS: The mean age (+/-SD) of subjects was 60.9+/-10.5 years and 61.1% were men. More than one quarter (28.2%) of patients were asymptomatic. The prevalence of left colon cancer was higher (77.9%) than that for right colon cancer. The most frequent macroscopic and histologic types were depressed (58.9%) and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (52.2%), respectively. Asymptomatic subjects displayed protruding or well differentiated adenocarcinoma, while symptomatic patients were more likely to display depressed or moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (P<0.05). The mean age of the right colon cancer group was higher than that for the left colon cancer group (P<0.05). Among symptomatic patients, the most frequent symptoms were bloody stool for patients with left colon cancer and abdominal discomfort for patients with right colon cancer (P<0.05). The prevalence of depressed cancer was higher in older subjects as compared to younger subjects (P<0.05). The prevalence of right colon cancer tended to increase with age, although this difference did not achieve statistical significance (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Study results indicated an increase of colon cancer amongst younger demographics in recent years. The effectiveness of colonoscopy screening was also evident, as asymptomatic patients demonstrated frequent findings of well differentiated adenocarcinomas. Study results also suggested a need for closer examination of older patients, as right colon cancer tended to increase with age.
Adenocarcinoma ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Colonoscopy ; Demography ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Population Characteristics ; Prevalence ; Primary Health Care* ; Rectum

Two dogs were presented with melena, vomiting and depression after accidental swallowing of candy form of Strepsils (flurbiprofen), which is one of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used in human medicine for controlling a sore throat. These dogs had common signs of anemia induced by gastrointestinal ulceration and hemorrhage with azotemia and leukocytosis. The dogs were treated with blood transfusion, fluid therapy, proton-pump inhibitor, antiemetics, mucus protectant and antibiotic. Although most of clinical signs of two dogs were resolved, azotemic problem with evidence of renal injury have remained.
Anemia ; Animals ; Antiemetics ; Azotemia ; Blood Transfusion ; Candy ; Deglutition ; Depression ; Dogs* ; Fluid Therapy ; Flurbiprofen* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Lidocaine ; Melena ; Mucus ; Pharyngitis ; Ulcer ; Vomiting ; Wounds and Injuries