BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein E-epsilon4 (APOE-epsilon4) is a known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), but its relationship with vascular risk factors is still controversial. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 56 probable AD patients diagnosed by the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorder's Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) criteria. RESULTS: The frequencies of APOE-epsilon2, 3, and 4 were 6.3%, 69.6%, and 24.1% in patients with AD. Compared to the no APOE-epsilon4 group (n=35), the APOE-epsilon4 group (n=21) revealed a higher frequency of male gender with no difference in age, educational level, dementia onset age, severity of dementia (CDR and K-MMSE), the frequencies of vascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia), and total cholesterol level. High density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level was 36+/- 8 in the APOE-epsilon4 group and 43+/-11 in the no APOE-epsilon4 group with statistical significance (Student's t-test, p=0.02). In adjusting for sex, the APOE-epsilon4 group still had a significantly lower HDL-cholesterol level than the no APOE-epsilon4 group (p=0.047). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that there may be the genetic influence of APOE-epsilon4 on serum HDLcholesterol metabolism in AD patients.
Age of Onset ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Apolipoprotein E2 ; Apolipoproteins* ; Cholesterol ; Communication Disorders ; Dementia ; Genotype* ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Stroke

Background: Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) using adhesive skin electrodes has been reported to be useful method for preserving recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) in thyroid surgery. The aim of this study is to investigate the usefulness of IONM using adhesive skin electrodes in minimally invasive open hemithyroidectomy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 23 patients diagnosed with micropapillary thyroid carcinoma from May 2020 to August 2022 who underwent minimally invasive open hemithyroidectomy. Adhesive skin electrodes were attached to the skin in the area of the lateral border of the thyroid cartilage lamina.Hemithyroidectomy was performed by approaching between sternocleidomastoid and strap muscles, after a 3-4 cm horizontal skin incision. We collected the data regarding age, sex, mean amplitude and latency of evoked electromyogram (EMG) (V1, R1, R2, V2). Results: The amplitude of EMG from vagus and RLN was successfully measured. The mean amplitude was measured as 239.2 μV for V1, 278.0 μV for R1, 362.1 μV for R2, and 307.0 μV for V2, respectively. Conclusion The monitoring using adhesive skin electrodes is good alternative method of IONM using EMG endotracheal tube for preserving RLN during minimally invasive open hemithyroidectomy.

Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) vary in their biologic behavior. Recurrence and tumor-related mortality may be attributable to molecular abnormalities in primary tumors. This study evaluated such immunophenotypes with regard to cell cycle regulation and proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis, to determine their significance for patient outcome. Core biopsies from 219 patients with NSCLC were assembled on tissue microarrays, and the expressions of p16, p21, p27, cyclin B1, cyclin E, Ki-67, caspase-3, survivin, bcl-2, VEGF, and endostatin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Despite previously described prognostic relevance of some of the investigated molecules, many of those markers were not directly associated with recurrence or survival. However, there was a trend for p16 immunoreactivity to be associated with a good prognosis (57% vs. 42% in 5-yr survival) (p=0.071). bcl-2 expression was strongly correlated with a better outcome (65% vs. 45% in 5-yr survival) (p=0.029), and the hazard of death for bcl-2 positive patients was 0.42 times of that for bcl-2 negative patients (p=0.047). A multivariate analysis with Cox proportional hazards model confirmed that the lymph node status (p=0.043) and stage (p=0.003) were other independent prognostic factors. Our results suggest that p16 and bcl-2 provide prognostic information independent of the TNM stage in NSCLC.
Tumor Markers, Biological/*analysis ; Survival Rate ; Survival Analysis ; Statistics ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Reproducibility of Results ; Prognosis ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care)/*methods ; Neoplasm Proteins/*analysis ; Male ; Lung Neoplasms/*diagnosis/*metabolism/mortality ; Korea/epidemiology ; Humans ; Female ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/*diagnosis/*metabolism/mortality ; Aged

The first edition of ‘A Standardized Pathology Report for Gastric Cancer’ was initiated by the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists and published 17 years ago. Since then, significant advances have been made in the pathologic diagnosis, molecular genetics, and management of gastric cancer (GC). To reflect those changes, a committee for publishing a second edition of the report was formed within the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists. This second edition consists of two parts: standard data elements and conditional data elements. The standard data elements contain the basic pathologic findings and items necessary to predict the prognosis of GC patients, and they are adequate for routine surgical pathology service. Other diagnostic and prognostic factors relevant to adjuvant therapy, including molecular biomarkers, are classified as conditional data elements to allow each pathologist to selectively choose items appropriate to the environment in their institution. We trust that the standardized pathology report will be helpful for GC diagnosis and facilitate large-scale multidisciplinary collaborative studies.

The first edition of ‘A Standardized Pathology Report for Gastric Cancer’ was initiated by the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists and published 17 years ago. Since then, significant advances have been made in the pathologic diagnosis, molecular genetics, and management of gastric cancer (GC). To reflect those changes, a committee for publishing a second edition of the report was formed within the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists. This second edition consists of two parts: standard data elements and conditional data elements.The standard data elements contain the basic pathologic findings and items necessary to predict the prognosis of GC patients, and they are adequate for routine surgical pathology service. Other diagnostic and prognostic factors relevant to adjuvant therapy, including molecular biomarkers, are classified as conditional data elements to allow each pathologist to selectively choose items appropriate to the environment in their institution. We trust that the standardized pathology report will be helpful for GC diagnosis and facilitate large-scale multidisciplinary collaborative studies.