Recently, most bone cancers have shown a dismal prognosis even though they were managed with amputation. In the 1970s, anticancer drugs began to be used for bone tumor treatment as adjuvant agents, with the hope of survival improvement, while keeping the limb preserved. The 5-year survival of osteosarcoma patients increased up to 70% with anticancer chemotherapy and limb-salvage surgery. Limb salvage surgery includes all surgical procedures performed to accomplish resection of a malignant bone tumor and reconstruction of the skeletal system with an acceptable oncological and functional outcome. Currently, surgeons can choose a variety of reconstruction methods, including osteoarticular allograft, allograft-prosthesis composite, and metallic tumor endoprosthesis. However, complication rates are still high. The advancement of implant technology, adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiologic imaging modality has contributed to the evolution of limb salvage surgery. Nevertheless, there are still many barriers that have yet to be addressed to move further.

Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) are highly effective agents for the treatment of inf lammatory arthritis; however, they also possess a potential risk for serious infection. Recently, with the rapid expansion of the bDMARDs market in Korea, reports of serious adverse events related to the agents have also increased, necessitating guidance for the use of bDMARDs. Current work entitled, “Expert consensus for the use of bDMARDs drugs for inflammatory arthritis in Korea,” is the first to describe the appropriate use of bDMARDs in the management of inflammatory arthritis in Korea, with an aim to provide guidance for the local medical community to improve the quality of clinical care. Twelve consensus statements regarding the use of bDMARDs for the management of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis were generated. In this review, we provide detailed guidance on bDMARDs use based on expert consensus, including who should prescribe, the role of education, indications for use, and monitoring strategies for safety.

Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) are highly effective agents for the treatment of inflammatory arthritis; however, they also possess a potential risk for serious infection. Recently, with the rapid expansion of the bDMARDs market in Korea, reports of serious adverse events related to the agents have also increased, necessitating guidance for the use of bDMARDs. Current work entitled, “Expert Consensus for the Use of bDMARDs Drugs for Inflammatory Arthritis in Korea,” is the first to describe the appropriate use of bDMARDs in the management of inflammatory arthritis in Korea, with an aim to provide guidance for the local medical community to improve the quality of clinical care. Twelve consensus statements regarding the use of bDMARDs for the management of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis were generated. In this review, we provide detailed guidance on bDMARDs use based on expert consensus, including who should prescribe, the role of education, indications for use, and monitoring strategies for safety.

Excessive dynamic airway collapse (EDAC) is a disease entity of excessive reduction of the central airway diameter during exhalation, without cartilage collapse. An 80-year-old female presented with generalized edema and dyspnea at our hospital. The patient was in a state of acute decompensated heart failure due to pneumonia with respiratory failure. We accordingly managed the patient with renal replacement therapy, mechanical ventilation and antibiotics. Bronchoscopy confirmed the diagnosis of EDAC. We scheduled extubation after the improvement of pneumonia and heart condition. However, extubation failure occurred due to hypercapnic respiratory failure with poor expectoration. Her EDAC was improved in response to high flow nasal oxygen therapy (HFNOT). Subsequently, the patient was stabilized and transferred to the general ward. HFNOT, which generates physiologic positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) effects, could be an alternative and effective management of EDAC. Further research and clinical trials are needed to demonstrate the therapeutic effect of HFNOT on EDAC.
Aged, 80 and over ; Airway Obstruction ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bronchoscopy ; Cartilage ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Exhalation ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy ; Oxygen* ; Patients' Rooms ; Pneumonia ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the perception of and treatment pattern with regard to the four important issues in the management of lupus nephritis (LN), and to identify which parts of the LN treatment are difficult for physicians to carry out in clinical practice. METHODS: Four steps were carried out: pre-survey, LN symposium, post-survey, and meeting after the symposium.The two surveys were conducted with the same contents regarding renal biopsy, induction and maintenance treatment for class III and IV LN, and treatment for class V LN. The results of the first survey and the changes in opinion reflected in the second survey were comparatively analyzed. RESULTS: In the first survey, most of the respondent physicians replied that they would immediately conduct biopsy in the case of significant proteinuria. For the induction treatment of class III and IV LN, most of the respondent physicians selected high-dose cyclophosphamide. Mycophenolate mofetil and steroid combination therapy were selected for the maintenance treatment, and tacrolimus for the treatment of class V LN. There was a controversy in the drug selection, however, especially on the maintenance treatment of class III and IV LN and on the treatment of non-responsive class V LN. CONCLUSION: Some discrepancies were found in the treatment of LN in the real world. Although no recommendation was made for Korean LN patients in this study, the study results will help physicians select the most reasonable treatment for Korean LN patients based on experts' experiences and objective evidence.
Biopsy ; Cyclophosphamide ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Humans ; Lupus Nephritis ; Mycophenolic Acid ; Proteinuria ; Tacrolimus

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and the safety of etoricoxib 90 mg daily administered to Korean patients for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis over a 12-week period. METHODS: Eighty-nine patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis were administered Etoricoxib 90 mg for 12 weeks. Tender Joint Count (total 68 joints), Swollen Joint Count (total 66 joints), Patient Global Assessment of Disease Activity, and Investigator Global Assessment of Disease Activity were assessed as primary endpoints. Patient Global Assessment of Pain, Health Assessment of Questionnaire (HAQ: disability scales), Patient Global Assessment of Response to Therapy, Investigator Global Assessment of Response to Therapy, and Duration of Morning Stiffness were assessed as secondary endpoints. Those endpoints were assessed at week 2, 4, 8, and 12. Safety was evaluated by physical examination, serum chemistry, blood count, urinalysis, and occurrence of adverse events. RESULTS: Etoricoxib 90 mg showed significant effects compared to baseline, thus the result indicated etoricoxib was clinically effective. Etoricoxib 90 mg showed significant improvement in all efficacy endpoints (primary endpoints and secondary endpoints). Treatment effects for etoricoxib 90 mg were approximately a 7.3 (95% CI 5.8 8.9, p<0.0001) joint reduction in the number of tender joints, 4.8 (95% CI 3.6 6.0, p<0.0001) joint reduction in the number of swollen joints, a 15.4 (95% CI 12.1 18.7, p<0.0001) mm improvement in the patient global assessment (100 mm VAS) and 1.3 (95% CI 1.1 1.6, p<0.0001) unit improvement in the investigator global assessment (0 to 4 Likert scale). Treatment effects were observed at the earliest time point of measurement and were maintained over time during the 12-week period. Drug-related clinical adverse events were reported by 22 (24.7%) of 89 safety evaluable subjects. Eight patients discontinued the drug due to clinical adverse events. Frequency of drug-related laboratory abnormalities was low with 2 (2.2%). Nobody discontinued due to laboratory abnormalities. CONCLUSION: (1) Etoricoxib 90 mg once daily was clinically effective for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in Korea patients. (2) Etoricoxib 90 mg once daily administered to patients with rheumatoid arthritis was generally safe and well tolerated.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Chemistry ; Humans ; Joints ; Korea ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Research Personnel ; Urinalysis

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) of the bowel wall has been suggested as an alternative imaging modality for the follow-up of children with Crohn’s disease. To demonstrate the feasibility and clinical usefulness of CEUS in the estimation of Crohn’s disease activity in children with endoscopy as the reference standard.Method: In this prospective study, 30 pediatric patients with Crohn’s disease (24 males and 6 females; median age 14 years) underwent CEUS from December 2020 to August 2021.The simple endoscopic score for Crohn’s disease, pediatric Crohn’s disease activity index, serologic inflammatory markers, fecal calprotectin and CEUS perfusion parameters were assessed and compared between the inactive and active group based on endoscopic findings. Results: CEUS was performed successfully in all 30 patients. Two patients showed mild adverse side effects such as temporary dysosmia. The active Crohn’s disease group showed higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/hr) (13.0 vs. 2.0, P = 0.003), C-reactive protein (mg/dL) (4.7 vs. 0.55, P = 0.018) and fecal calprotectin (mcg/g) (1,503 vs. 237.5, P = 0.005). Among the quantitative parameters for CEUS, the mean gradient to the peak value was higher in the active group (1.18 vs. 0.93, P = 0.034). The sensitivity and specificity of the mean gradient to the peak value for predicting active Crohn’s disease was 55.6% and 83.3%, respectively, with a cut-off of 1.09 (P = 0.015). Conclusion CEUS can be a safe and specific diagnostic modality for Crohn’s disease activity in children. Among quantitative CEUS parameters, the mean gradient to the peak value could be used to differentiate active and inactive Crohn’s disease.

Background: To determine the correct size of endotracheal tubes (ETTs) for endotracheal intubation of pediatric patients, new methods have been investigated. Although the three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has been successful in the field of surgery, there are not many studies in the field of anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a 3D airway model for prediction of the correct ETT size, and compare the results with a conventional age-based formula in pediatric patients. Methods: Thirty-five pediatric patients under six years of age who were scheduled for congenital heart surgery were enrolled. In the pre-anesthetic period, the patient’s computed tomography (CT) images were converted to Standard Triangle Language (STL) files using the 3D conversion program. A Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) type 3D printer was used to print 3D airway models from the sub-glottis to the upper carina. ETT size was selected by inserting various sized cuffed-ETTs to a printed 3D airway model. Results: The 3D method selected the correct ETT size in 21 out of 35 pediatric patients (60%), whereas the age-based formula selected the correct ETT size in 9 patients (26%). Conclusions Prediction of the correct size of ETTs using a printed 3D airway model demonstrated better results than the age-based formula. This suggests that the selection of ETT size using a printed 3D airway model may be feasible for helping minimize re-intubation attempts and complications in patients with congenital heart disease and/or those with an abnormal range of growth and development.

The direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) would be the standard treatment for the prevention of stroke and thromboembolism in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients. The adverse effects of greatest concern are bleeding especially major bleeding. We present a case of a patient with a history of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and pacemaker, who developed severe anemia after massive hemoptysis while taking DOAC; however, he has continued taking DOAC. Through this case, we have summarized the current management of major bleeding associated with anticoagulation and discuss the optimal regimen for restarting of anticoagulation therapy.