Purpose: Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels for solid tumors have been useful in clinical framework for accurate tumor diagnosis and identifying essential molecular aberrations. However, most cancer panels have been designed to address a wide spectrum of pan-cancer models, lacking integral prognostic markers that are highly specific to gliomas. Materials and Methods: To address such challenges, we have developed a glioma-specific NGS panel, termed “GliomaSCAN,” that is capable of capturing single nucleotide variations and insertion/deletion, copy number variation, and selected promoter mutations and structural variations that cover a subset of intron regions in 232 essential glioma-associated genes. We confirmed clinical concordance rate using pairwise comparison of the identified variants from whole exome sequencing (WES), immunohistochemical analysis, and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Results: Our panel demonstrated high sensitivity in detecting potential genomic variants that were present in the standard materials. To ensure the accuracy of our targeted sequencing panel, we compared our targeted panel to WES. The comparison results demonstrated a high correlation. Furthermore, we evaluated clinical utility of our panel in 46 glioma patients to assess the detection capacity of potential actionable mutations. Thirty-two patients harbored at least one recurrent somatic mutation in clinically actionable gene. Conclusion We have established a glioma-specific cancer panel. GliomaSCAN highly excelled in capturing somatic variations in terms of both sensitivity and specificity and provided potential clinical implication in facilitating genome-based clinical trials. Our results could provide conceptual advance towards improving the response of genomically guided molecularly targeted therapy in glioma patients.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the results of conventional methodology and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for acid-producing bacteria and identify the appropriate method for caries activity testing. Methods: Oral examination and caries activity tests, such as the CRT® Bacteria test and modified Snyder test, were conducted on 33 middle school students in Cheongju, South Korea. Pearson correlation analysis was subsequently performed with a significance level of 5%. Results: The amount of Streptococcus mutans determined using the CRT® Bacteria test was highly correlated with the decayed teeth (DT) index (R=0.570, P<0.05); decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index (R=0.376, P<0.05); and dental health capacity of the first permanent molar (R=―0.395, P<0.05). The amount of Streptococcus mutans determined using real-time PCR was significantly associated with the DT index (R=0.528, P<0.05), DMFT index (R=0.369, P<0.05), and dental health capacity of the first permanent molar (R=―0.426, P=0.013). Conclusions There was a significant correlation between the amount and the type of bacteria between the CRT® Bacteria test and real-time PCR; therefore, these tests were found to be more appropriate to determine caries activity than the modified Snyder test. This study suggests that realtime PCR is a better technique for detecting caries activities than conventional techniques, such as the CRT® Bacteria test and modified Snyder test, because it is easy to use and provides accurate results.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study is to describe the outcome of the national survey and to determine the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) quality in Korea by comparing with the quality indicators. METHODS: We used the database of Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service and then performed anonymous national survey. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were returned by 129 of 157 ERCP endoscopists. In Korea, annual ERCP rates have been consistently increased over years. Individual ERCP volume was high (>200 per year) in about half of ERCP endoscopists. Most ERCP endoscopists performed all of level I procedures. However, manometry, cholangiopancreatoscopy, and pancreatic procedures were performed mostly in institutions with high hospital volume. The rate of overall success was more than 90% in most ERCP endoscopists. However, the rate of precut sphincterotomy was high in more than a fourth of ERCP endoscopists. Twelve ERCP endoscopists experienced post-ERCP mortality within recent 1 year. ERCP training and radiation protection during ERCP did not meet the standard of quality indicators especially in institutions with low or moderate hospital volume. CONCLUSIONS: Technical issues during ERCP procedures in Korea fulfill the standard of quality indicators. However, a great effort is needed to improve issues about ERCP training and radiation protection.
Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Manometry ; Mortality ; Radiation Protection ; Republic of Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify nurses' job satisfaction, patients' satisfaction, and direct nursing time according to the change in grade of nursing management fee.METHODS: Descriptive design was used in this study. Nurses (n = 200) and patients (n = 200) were recruited from one university hospital in Busan. Four aspects were measured: direct nursing time, overtime, nurses' job satisfaction, and patients' satisfaction. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, χ2-tests, and t-tests.RESULTS: There was a significant difference in patient satisfaction (t = -2.09, p = .038) and direct nursing time (t = -4.77, p < .001) when the nurse staffing grade was changed from the level two to the level one.CONCLUSION: The findings from this study showed that a higher nurse-to-patient ratio can provide a greater amount of direct nursing time for individual patients and increase patient satisfaction.
Busan ; Fees and Charges ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Nursing Staff ; Nursing ; Patient Satisfaction

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of abdominal massage on alleviating pain caused by the injection of recombinant gonadotropin for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) among infertile women. METHODS: This study employed a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. A total sample of 149 infertile women who never experienced in vitro fertilization was recruited at C fertility center. Seventy women were assigned into experimental group and 79 into controls. The experimental group had been informed to do abdominal massage prior to the injection and to record their subjective pain using visual analogue scale. The control group had been informed to record their subjective pain in the same way just after the injection. RESULTS: Compared to the pre-tested pain scores, the pain scores in experimental group were significantly reduced by 0.7 points, whereas the control group increased by 0.9 points (t=-4.55, p=.001). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that the use of abdominal massage prior to the injection is an effective way to alleviate pain on injection site. This massage may be a useful intervention for infertile women about pain alleviation.
Female ; Fertility ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Massage*

A 69-year-old man was consulted to our Home Health Care department for home parenteral enteral nutrition. He was diagnosed with Kennedy disease. He had swallowing difficulty and bowel ischemia. We provided nutritional support in a variety of ways in order to suit his condition. The role of the home care nurse involves training methods depending on changes in the nutritional support to patient and care giver. However, in the case of Kennedy disease, increasing the target patient's nutritional requirements as calculated was difficult.
Aged ; Bulbo-Spinal Atrophy, X-Linked* ; Caregivers ; Deglutition ; Delivery of Health Care ; Enteral Nutrition* ; Home Care Services ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Nutritional Requirements ; Nutritional Support ; Parenteral Nutrition

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins may exhibit differential expression in intestinal type or pancreatobiliary type ampulla of Vater carcinomas (AVCs). We evaluated the expression of E-cadherin, beta-catenin, and S100A4 in intestinal and nonintestinal type AVCs and analyzed their relationships with clinicopathological variables and survival. METHODS: A clinicopathological review of 105 patients with AVCs and immunohistochemical staining for E-cadherin, beta-catenin, and S100A4 were performed. The association between clinicopathological parameters, histological type, and expression of EMT proteins and their effects on survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixty-five intestinal type, 35 pancreatobiliary type, and five other types of AVCs were identified. The severity of EMT changes differed between the AVC types; membranous loss of E-cadherin and beta-catenin was observed in nonintestinal type tumors, whereas aberrant nonmembranous beta-catenin expression was observed in intestinal type tumors. EMT-related changes were more pronounced in the invasive tumor margin than in the tumor center, and these EMT-related changes were related to tumor aggressiveness. Among the clinicopathological parameters, a desmoplastic reaction was related to overall survival, and the reaction was more severe in nonintestinal type than in intestinal type AVCs. CONCLUSIONS: Dysregulation of E-cadherin, beta-cadherin, and S100A4 expression may play a role in the carcinogenesis and tumor progression of AVCs.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ampulla of Vater/*metabolism ; Cadherins/metabolism ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms/classification/*metabolism ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; S100 Proteins/metabolism ; Tumor Markers, Biological/*metabolism ; beta Catenin/metabolism

BACKGROUND: Simian virus 40 (SV40), a polyomavirus, was discovered as a contaminant of a human polio vaccine in the 1960s. It is known that malignant mesothelioma (MM) is associated with SV40, and that the virus works as a cofactor to the carcinogenetic effects of asbestos. However, the reports about the correlation between SV40 and MM have not been consistent. The purpose of this study is to identify SV40 in MM tissue in Korea through detection of SV40 protein and DNA. METHODS: We analyzed 62 cases of available paraffin-blocks enrolled through the Korean Malignant Mesothelioma Surveillance System and performed immunohistochemistry for SV40 protein and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for SV40 DNA. RESULTS: Of 62 total cases, 40 had disease involving the pleura (64.5%), and 29 (46.8%) were found to be of the epithelioid subtype. Immunostaining demonstrated that all examined tissues were negative for SV40 protein. Sufficient DNA was extracted for real-time PCR analysis from 36 cases. Quantitative PCR of these samples showed no increase in SV40 transcript compared to the negative controls. CONCLUSIONS: SV40 is not associated with the development of MM in Korea.
Asbestos ; DNA ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Korea ; Mesothelioma ; Pleura ; Poliomyelitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polyomavirus ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Simian virus 40 ; Viruses

PURPOSE: The glutathione-S-transferase (GST)P1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes have been associated with an increased risk of prostate, bladder, and lung cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes and the risk of prostate cancer in Korean men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 166 patients with histologically confirmed prostate cancer. The control group consisted of 327 healthy, cancer-free individuals. The diagnosis of prostate cancer was made by transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy. Patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma were divided into organ-confined (< or =pT2) and non-organ-confined (> or =pT3) subgroups. The histological grades were subdivided according to the Gleason score. The GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes were determined by using polymerase chain reaction-based methods. The relationship among GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 polymorphisms and prostate cancer in a case-control study was investigated. RESULTS: The frequency of the GSTM1 null genotype in the prostate cancer group (54.2%) was higher than in the control group (odds ratio=1.53, 95% confidence interval=1.20-1.96). The comparison of the GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes and cancer prognostic factors, such as staging and grading, showed no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: An increased risk for prostate cancer may be associated with the GSTM1 null genotype in Korean men, but no association was found with the GSTT1 or GSTP1 genotypes.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Case-Control Studies ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The increase of colonoscopy procedures has led to an increase in the diagnosis of carcinoid tumors in the lower gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical and pathological characteristics that affect the treatment and recurrence of carcinoid tumors of the lower gastrointestinal tract. METHODS: A 10-year (1999-2009) retrospective analysis of 41 patients with carcinoid tumors of the lower gastrointestinal tract at the Chungbuk National University Hospital was conducted. Patient and tumor characteristics, treatment and recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age was 47.4+/-12.4 (range, 22-79 years) and the male to female ratio was 1:0.64. The mean tumor size was 9.4+/-4.8 (3-20) mm. In the lower gastrointestinal tract, the rectum was the most frequent location of the lower gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors (92.7%). Twenty-nine out of 41 patients were treated by endoscopy (mean size of tumor: 8.0+/-3.4 mm) and 12 were treated by surgery (mean size of tumor: 13.8+/-5.8 mm)(P=0.011). Among the patients treated by endoscopy, only one patient had a complete resection. However, the histology showed that 10 patients treated by endoscopy had positive resection margins; all 10 cases (35.7%) had a polypectomy (P=0.013). The mean follow-up duration was 19.2+/-14.5 months, and there were two recurrences of rectal carcinoid tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Both endoscopic and surgical resections were effective methods for the treatment of lower gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors. However, endoscopic polypectomy should be carefully considered because of the possibility of more frequent incomplete histological resections. Moreover, even for small rectal carcinoid tumors, follow-up examination should be performed to evaluate for tumor recurrence.
Carcinoid Tumor ; Colonoscopy ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract ; Male ; Rectum ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies