PURPOSE: We analyzed our 10-year experience in a single-center, public hospital and thereby evaluated the changing trends of clinico-pathologic and surgical characteristics as well as treatment outcomes in patients with gastric cancer.METHODS: The current single-center, retrospective study was conducted with patients who had been treated at department of our medical institution during a period ranging from March 1, 2007 to June 16, 2018. The eligible patients were divided into two groups: group I (March 2007–April 2012) and II (May 2012–June 2018). Then, we compared time-dependent changes in clinico-pathologic characteristics between the two groups.RESULTS: The mean age was 63.0±11.3 years in group I and 65.8±10.5 years in group II, respectively (P=0.017). The American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) score was 34.9% for 1 point, 38.3% for 2 points, and 26.9% for 3 points or more in group I, and 31.1% for 1 point, 52.5% for 2 points, and 16.4% for 3 points or more in group II, which was statistically significant (P=0.012). The average follow-up duration was significantly different between the two group (39.8±39.7 vs. 23.4±20.6) (P < 0.001). The duration of postoperative hospital stay was 1.8 days longer in group II than group I (P=0.047). Tumor depth, node metastasis and distant metastasis were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.001, P=0.009, and P=0.019, respectively).CONCLUSION: There were significant differences in the age, ASA score, average follow-up duration, postoperative hospital stay, tumor depth, node metastasis and distant metastasis between the two groups.
Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Hospitals, Public ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Treatment Outcome

No abstract available.
Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Vertebroplasty*

BACKGROUND: This study compared the clinical and radiological outcomes of the single calcar screw plate and Polarus nail techniques for the treatment of the proximal humerus fractures. METHODS: Seventy-two patients diagnosed with displaced proximal humerus fracture were enrolled for the study. Of these, 50 patients underwent the locking plate surgery with a single calcar screw (plate group), whereas 22 patients underwent the Polarus nail surgery (nail group). The plate group was further divided into plate 1 group (with medial support), and plate 2 group (without medial support). The radiological and functional results of both groups were compared to the nail group. RESULTS: The α angle 1 year after surgery was significantly different between plate 1 and plate 2, and plate 2 and nail groups (p=0.041, p=0.043, respectively). The ratio that does not satisfy the reference value of γ angle was 2.8% in plate 1, 7.1% in plate 2 and 22.7% in nail group (p=0.007); there was a significant difference between plate 1 and nail group, and plate 2 and nail group (p=0.014, p=0.033, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were observed in the clinical results between locking plate and Polarus nail. However, in the plate 2 group and nail group, the rate of failure to maintain reduction during the 1-year period after surgery was statistically and significantly higher than the plate 1 group (level of evidence: level IV, case series, treatment study).
Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; Humerus* ; Reference Values

No abstract available.
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Sarcoma, Myeloid*

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are increasingly treated by radiologists using various embolic materials. Because of pain and significant hemodynamic changes that may be associated with this treatment, anesthesiologists are frequently asked to provide anesthesia and supportive care. We evaluated the hemodynamic changes that occurred after absolute alcohol embolization. METHODS: Fourteen patients between 15 and 50 years of age who had arteriovenous malformation were included in this study. 2 to 4 ml of alcohol was injected each time. The hemodynamic parameters were measured before alcohol injection (control) and after 1st to 10th alcohol injection. RESULTS: Blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output were significantly increased after 1st to 10th alcohol injection compared with control value. Central venous pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and systemic vascular resistance were not significantly changed. But pulmonary vascular resistance was significantly increased after 9th and 10th alcohol injection. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure was significantly increased after 4th, 8th, 9th and 10th alcohol injection. CONCLUSIONS: Bolus injection of absolute ethyl alcohol induces short-term significant increases in blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output probably by severe pain and sympathetic activation that appear to be centrally mediated. The underlying mechanism of cardiovascular event and other systemic effects of intravascular ethanol in this setting need further study.
Anesthesia ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Central Venous Pressure ; Ethanol ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Sclerotherapy* ; Vascular Resistance

OBJECTIVE: The Histoculture Drug Response Assay (HDRA), which measures chemosensitivity using minced tumor tissue on drug-soaked gelfoam, has been expected to overcome the limitations of in vitro chemosensitivity test in part. We analyzed interim results of HDRA in malignant gliomas to see if the test can deserve further clinical trials. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with malignant gliomas were operated and their tumor samples were examined for the chemosensitivity to 10 chosen drugs by HDRA. The most sensitive chemotherapy regimen among those pre-established was chosen based on the number of sensitive drugs or total inhibition rate (IR) of the regimen. The response was evaluated by 3 month magnetic resonance image. RESULTS: Among 13 patients who underwent total resection of the tumor, 12 showed no evidence of disease and one patient revealed progression. The response rate in 20 patients with residual tumors was 55% (3 complete and 8 partial responses). HDRA sensitivity at the cut-off value of more than one sensitive drug in the applied regimen showed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 60% and predictability of 70%. Another cut-off value of >80% of total IR revealed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 69%, and predictability of 80%. For 12 newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients, median progression-free survival of the HDRA sensitive group was 21 months, while that of the non-sensitive group was 6 months (p=0.07). CONCLUSION: HDRA for malignant glioma was inferred as a feasible method to predict the chemotherapy response. We are encouraged to launch phase 2 clinical trial with chemosensitivity on HDRA.
Disease-Free Survival ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Glioblastoma ; Glioma ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Pilot Projects ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection may cause systemic inflammation and increase the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6. Unfortunately, bone mineral density also may be affected by these cytokines. This study aimed to evaluate the association between bone mineral density and H. pylori infection. METHODS: A cross-sectional study evaluated 1,126 men undergoing a comprehensive health screening in a private Korean screening center. Subjects' sera were tested for H. pylori antibodies (immunoglobulin G) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and bone mineral densities (g/cm2) of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total femur were obtained using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. To evaluate the difference in bone mineral density according to H. pylori infection status, the adjusted mean bone mineral densities at each site were compared after adjusting for potential confounders, including age, sex, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise. RESULTS: H. pylori infection was associated with a significant decrease in mean lumbar bone mineral density (H. pylori-positive, 1.190 g/cm2; H. pylori-negative, 1.219 g/cm2; P=0.006), which was greatest among men who were > or =50 years old (H. pylori-positive, 1.193 g/cm2; H. pylori-negative, 1.233 g/cm2; P=0.006). However, no significant association was observed in the bone mineral densities of the total femur and femoral neck. CONCLUSION: In men, H. pylori infection was negatively associated with lumbar bone mineral density. This association may be useful in the early detection, prevention, and management of male osteoporosis.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Alcohol Drinking ; Antibodies ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-6 ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Osteoporosis ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spine ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations between non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and corresponding brain metastases (BMs) in Korea society. METHODS: From 2011 to 2016, a total of 74 patients underwent surgical resection of a metastatic brain tumor from NSCLC. Among them, we performed retrospective analysis for 46 patients who underwent EGFR sequencing of primary NSCLC tissues. RESULTS: Among these 46 cases, 18 (39.1%) cases showed EGFR mutation in primary lung cancer. Detected mutation sites were exon 19 (8 cases), exon 21 (6 cases), exon 18 (1 cases), and multiple mutations (3 cases). In 18 cases of BM, EGFR mutation studies were done. Among them, 8 (25.6%) cases showed mutation on exon 19 (5 cases) or exon 21 (3 cases). To compare EGFR mutation status between primary lung cancer and BM, 18 paired tissues from both NSCLC and matched BM were collected. Four (22.5%) patients were discordant for the status of EGFR between primary and metastatic sites. CONCLUSION: EGFR mutations were significantly discordant between primary tumors and corresponding metastases in a significant portion of NSCLC. In treatment of BM of EGFR mutant metastatic NSCLC, due to possibility of discordance, pathologic confirming through brain biopsy is recommended.
Biopsy ; Brain Neoplasms ; Brain ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Exons ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The notion that acute hepatitis A superimposed on chronic hepatitis B infection leads to a worse outcome than acute hepatitis A alone remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) on the severity of acute hepatitis A. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 449 patients hospitalized for acute hepatitis A from January 2000 to February 2010 and compared clinical outcomes based on the presence of HBsAg. RESULTS: Of the 449 patients, 30 patients were in the HBsAg-positive group and 419 in the HBsAg-negative group. The HBsAg-positive group was older than the HBsAg-negative group (36.1+/-8.3 vs 31.8+/-8.5 years, p=0.004); however, other baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. Mean peak values of prothrombin time, serum total bilirubin, and serum creatinine at admission were significantly higher in the HBsAg-positive group. When comparing clinical outcomes between the 2 groups, gastrointestinal bleeding, acute renal failure, and acute liver failure were more frequently observed in the HBsAg-positive group. In particular, the incidence of acute liver failure was approximately 9-fold higher in the HBsAg-positive group than in the HBsAg-negative group (23.3% vs 3.3%; odds ratio [OR], 8.80; p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that HBsAg (OR, 7.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.56 to 21.57) and age (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.13) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of acute liver failure. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic hepatitis B infection, acute hepatitis A is associated with more severe clinical outcomes, including acute liver failure, compared with patients with acute hepatitis A alone.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Bilirubin ; Creatinine ; Hemorrhage ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis A ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver ; Liver Failure, Acute ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Prothrombin Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Nerve ligation injury may produce mechanical allodynia, but this can be reversed after an intrathecal administration of adenosine analogues. In many animal and human studies, ATP-sensitive potassium channel blockers have been known to reverse the antinociceptive effect of various drugs. This study was performed to evaluate the mechanical antiallodynic effects of spinal R-PIA (Adenosine A1 receptor agonist) and the reversal of these effects due to pretreatment with glibenclamide (ATP-sensitive potassium channel blocker). Thus, the relationship between the antiallodynic effects of R-PIA and ATP-sensitive potassium channel were investigated in a neuropathic model. METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley rats were prepared by tightly ligating the left lumbar 5th and 6th spinal nerves and implantation of a chronic lumbar intrathecal catheter for drug administration. The mechanical allodynia was measured by applying von Frey filaments ipsilateral to the lesioned hind paw. And the thresholds for paw withdrawal assessed. In study 1, either R-PIA (0.5, 1 and 2microgram) or saline were administered intrathecally for the examination of the antiallodynic effect of R-PIA. In study 2, glibenclamide (2, 5, 10 and 20 nM) was administered intrathecally 5 min prior to an R-PIA injection for investigation of the reversal of the antiallodynic effects of R-PIA. RESULTS: The antiallodynic effect of R-PIA was produced in a dose dependent manner. In study 1, the paw withdrawal threshold was significantly increased with 2microgram R-PIA (P < 0.05). In study 2, the paw withdrawal threshold with 2microgram R-PIA was significantly decreased almost dose dependently by intrathecal pretreatment of 5, 10 and 20 nM glibenclamide (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that an intrathecal injection of ATP-sensitive potassium channel blockers prior to an intrathecal injection of adenosine A1 receptors agonist had an antagonistic effect on R-PIA induced antiallodynia. The results suggest that the mechanism of mechanical antiallodynia, as induced by an intrathecal injection of R-PIA, may involve the ATP-sensitive potassium channel at both the spinal and supraspinal level in a rat nerve ligation injury model.
Adenosine ; Animals ; Catheters ; Glyburide ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Injections, Spinal ; Ligation ; Male ; Neuralgia ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; Potassium Channels* ; Potassium* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Adenosine A1 ; Receptors, Purinergic P1 ; Spinal Nerves