No abstract available.
Hamartoma*

The Korean National Health Information Database (NHID) contains big data combining information obtained from the National Health Insurance Service and health examinations. Data are provided in the form of a cohort, and the NHID can be used to conduct longitudinal studies and research on rare diseases. Moreover, data on the cause and date of death are provided by Statistics Korea. Research and publications based on the NHID have increased explosively in the field of endocrine disorders. However, because the data were not collected for research purposes, studies using the NHID have limitations, particularly the need for the operational definition of diseases. In this review, we describe the characteristics of the Korean NHID, operational definitions of endocrine diseases used for research, and an overview of recent studies in endocrinology using the Korean NHID.

Innumerable studies have suggested “the lower, the better” for cardiovascular risk factors, such as body weight, lipid profile, blood pressure, and blood glucose, in terms of health outcomes. However, excessively low levels of these parameters cause health problems, as seen in cachexia, hypoglycemia, and hypotension. Body weight fluctuation is related to mortality, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, although contradictory findings have been reported. High lipid variability is associated with increased mortality and elevated risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, end-stage renal disease, and dementia. High blood pressure variability is associated with increased mortality, myocardial infarction, hospitalization, and dementia, which may be caused by hypotension. Furthermore, high glucose variability, which can be measured by continuous glucose monitoring systems or self-monitoring of blood glucose levels, is associated with increased mortality, microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes, and hypoglycemic events, leading to hospitalization. Variability in metabolic parameters could be affected by medications, such as statins, antihypertensives, and hypoglycemic agents, and changes in lifestyle patterns. However, other mechanisms modify the relationships between biological variability and various health outcomes. In this study, we review recent evidence regarding the role of variability in metabolic parameters and discuss the clinical implications of these findings.

The role of duodenal reflux and the time required for the development of Barrett's esophagus has remained controversial. We report a case of Barrett's esophagus that developed 6 months after total gastrectomy. A 76-year-old man diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma underwent a total gastrectomy and a Rouxen-Y esophagojejunostomy. The gastroesophageal junction in the resected specimen was both grossly and microscopically normal at the time of the operation. A routine follow-up endoscopic examination performed 6 months later revealed a tongue-like projection of redcolored columnar tissue. No reflux symptoms (heartburn or acid regurgitation) had been present during the intervening 6 months. A biopsy specimen from the esophagus showed intestinal-type metaplasia of the columnar epithelium. This case supports the development of Barrett's esophagus solely from duodenal reflux and after a relatively short time in this clinical setting.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Barrett Esophagus ; Biopsy ; Duodenogastric Reflux ; Epithelium ; Esophagogastric Junction ; Esophagus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Metaplasia

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus might also be changing along with changes in the epidemiology of GERD, and the incidence of Barrett's cancer is expected to increase even more. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinicopathologic features and outcome of the patients with Barrett's cancer and who were seen at a single institution over a period of 13 years. METHODS: The records of 39 patients with the esophageal adenocarcinoma and who were treated at Samsung Medical Center from January 1995 to August 2008 were reviewed. Among them, 11 patients (28%) with histologically-confirmed Barrett's cancer were included in the study. The clinicopathological features, endoscopic manifestations and treatment outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 10:1. The mean age was 64 years. Most of the patients were diagnosed with Barrett's cancer after 2000, and there were three such patients (27.3%) in 2008. The frequent chief complaints were epigastric pain (27.3%) and chronic acid reflux symptom (18.2%). Three patients (27.3%) were detected incidentally during screening endoscopy. The macroscopic types based on the endoscopic findings were as follows: 4 lesions with a type IIa appearance (36.4%) and 2 with a type IIb appearance (18.2%). The mean tumor size was 1.2 cm at the longest dimension and 0.8 cm at the shortest dimension. Tumor was located in the mucosal layer in six cases (54.5%) and the 5 cases (45.5%) showed submucosal invasion. Lymph node metastasis was found in one case (9.1%). All the cases underwent surgery, except one case for which the tumor was removed by endoscopic submucosal dissection. There was no recurrence during the follow up period. CONCLUSIONS: As the incidence of Barrett's cancer is increasing, a standard surveillance program that includes the endoscopic biopsy method, the grading system for the dysplasia and the treatment modality should be established.
Adenocarcinoma ; Barrett Esophagus ; Biopsy ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prevalence ; Recurrence ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) has been reported to diveres spectrum of chinical presentations and radiologic patterns. The three representative radiologic patterns are followings; 1) a solitary nodule or mass, 2) a localized consolidation, and 3) multicentric or diffuse disease. While, the localized consolidation and solitary nodular patterns has favorable prognosis, the multicentric of diffuse pattern has worse prognosis regardless of treatment BAC presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodule is often misdiagnosed as other benign disease such as tuberculoma. Therefore it is very important to make proper diagnosis of BAC with solitary nodular pattern, since this pattern of BAC is usually curable with a surgical resection. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical and radiologic features of patients with pathologically-proven BAC with solitary nodular pattern from January 1995 to September 1996 at Samsung Medical Center. RESULTS: Total 11 patients were identified. 6 were men and 5 were women. Age ranged from 37 to 69. Median age was 60. Most patients with BAC with solitary nodular pattern were asymptomatic and were detected by incidental radiologic abnormality. The chest radiograph showed poorly defined opacity or nodule and computed tomography showed consolidation, ground glass appearance, internal bubble-like lucencies, air bronchogram, open bronchus sign, spiculated margin or pleural tag in most patients. The initial diagnosis on chest X-ray were pulmonary tuberculosis in 4 patients, benign nodule in 2 patients and malignant nodule in 5 patients. The FDG-positron emission tomogram was performed in eight patients. The FDG-PET revealed suggestive findings of malignancy in only 3 patients. The pathologic diagnosis was obtained by transbronchial lung biopsy in 1 patient, by CT guided percutaneous needle aspiration in 2 patients, and by lung biopsy via video-assited thoracocopy in 8 patients. Lobectomy was performed in all patients and postoperative pathologic staging were T1N0M0 in 8 patients and T2N0M0 in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: Patients of BAC presenting with solitary nodular pattern were most often asymptomatic and incidentally detected by radiologic abnormality. The chest X-ray showed poorly defined nodule or opacity and these findings were often regarded as benign lesion. If poorly nodule or opacity does not disappear on follow up chest X-ray, computed tomography should be performed. If consolidation, ground glass appearance, open bronchus sign, air bronchogram, internal bubble like lucency, pleural tag or spiculated margin are found on computed tomography, further diagnostic procedures, including open thoracotomy, should be performed to exclude the possiblity of BAC with solitary nodular pattern.
Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar* ; Biopsy ; Bronchi ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glass ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Needles ; Prognosis ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule* ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax ; Tuberculoma ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Repeat endoscopy with biopsy is often performed in patients with previously diagnosed gastric cancer to determine further treatment plans. However, biopsy results may differ from the original pathologic report. We reviewed patients who had a negative biopsy after referral for gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 116 patients with negative biopsy results after referral for biopsy-proven gastric cancer were enrolled. Outside pathology slides were reviewed. Images of the first and second endoscopic examinations were reviewed. We reviewed the clinical history from referral to the final treatment. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients (76%) arrived with information about the lesion from the referring physician. Among 96 patients with available outside slides, the rate of interobserver variation was 24%. Endoscopy was repeated at our institution; 85 patients (73%) were found to have definite lesions, whereas 31 patients (27%) had indeterminate lesions. In the group with definite lesions, 71% of the lesions were depressed in shape. The most common cause of a negative biopsy was mistargeting. In the group with indeterminate lesions, 94% had insufficient information. All patients with adequate follow-up were successfully treated based on the findings in the follow-up endoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: A negative biopsy after referral for biopsy-proven gastric cancer is mainly caused by mistargeting and insufficient information during the referral.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy/statistics & numerical data ; Diagnostic Errors/*statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Gastroscopy/*statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Observer Variation ; Referral and Consultation/statistics & numerical data ; Reoperation/statistics & numerical data ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach/*pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms/*pathology ; Young Adult

We surveyed the generation rate of health statistics by medical records offices of the 78 hospitals and its automation rate using computerized hospital information system. Structured questionnaire was given to one medical record officer of each hospital. Items in the questionnaire was selected from statistics required for hospital service evaluation or OECD health statistics. More than 50% of the medical record office generated questioned health statistics, and most of them was automated. Because many of the medical record offices of the hospitals are producing essential health statistics and automated, there is a possibility that we can collect and use these datas to build up national health database if adequate standardization procedure can be implemented.
Automation* ; Hospital Information Systems ; Medical Records* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND/AIMS: CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)- high colorectal cancers (CRCs) have distinct clinicopathological features from their CIMP-low/negative CRC counterparts. However, controversy exists regarding the prognosis of CRC according to the CIMP status. Therefore, this study examined the prognosis of Korean patients with colon cancer according to the CIMP status. METHODS: Among a previous cohort population with CRC, a total of 154 patients with colon cancer who had available tissue for DNA extraction were included in the study. CIMP-high was defined as 3/5 methylated markers using the five-marker panel (CACNA1G, IGF2, NEUROG1, RUNX3, and SOCS1). RESULTS: CIMP-high and CIMP-low/negative cancers were observed in 27 patients (17.5%) and 127 patients (82.5%), respectively. Multivariate analysis adjusting for age, gender, tumor location, tumor stage and CIMP and microsatellite instability (MSI) statuses indicated that CIMP-high colon cancers were associated with a significant increase in colon cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 3.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20 to 8.69; p=0.02). In microsatellite stable cancers, CIMP-high cancer had a poor survival outcome compared to CIMP-low/negative cancer (HR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.02 to 8.27; p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the MSI status, CIMP-high cancers had poor survival outcomes in Korean patients.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*genetics/*mortality ; CpG Islands/*physiology ; *DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Instability ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; *Phenotype ; Prognosis ; Republic of Korea ; Sex Factors ; Survival Analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)- high colorectal cancers (CRCs) have distinct clinicopathological features from their CIMP-low/negative CRC counterparts. However, controversy exists regarding the prognosis of CRC according to the CIMP status. Therefore, this study examined the prognosis of Korean patients with colon cancer according to the CIMP status. METHODS: Among a previous cohort population with CRC, a total of 154 patients with colon cancer who had available tissue for DNA extraction were included in the study. CIMP-high was defined as 3/5 methylated markers using the five-marker panel (CACNA1G, IGF2, NEUROG1, RUNX3, and SOCS1). RESULTS: CIMP-high and CIMP-low/negative cancers were observed in 27 patients (17.5%) and 127 patients (82.5%), respectively. Multivariate analysis adjusting for age, gender, tumor location, tumor stage and CIMP and microsatellite instability (MSI) statuses indicated that CIMP-high colon cancers were associated with a significant increase in colon cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 3.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20 to 8.69; p=0.02). In microsatellite stable cancers, CIMP-high cancer had a poor survival outcome compared to CIMP-low/negative cancer (HR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.02 to 8.27; p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the MSI status, CIMP-high cancers had poor survival outcomes in Korean patients.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*genetics/*mortality ; CpG Islands/*physiology ; *DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Instability ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; *Phenotype ; Prognosis ; Republic of Korea ; Sex Factors ; Survival Analysis