Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to significant global casualties. This study examines the postoperative impact of COVID-19 on patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery, considering their heightened vulnerability to infections and increased morbidity and mortality risk. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary center and patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery between January 2022 and February 2023 were included. Postoperative COVID-19 infection was defined as the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA by RT-PCR within 14 days after surgery. Propensity score matching was performed including age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiology physical status classification, and emergency operation between the COVID-19-negative (–) and -positive (+) groups. Results: Following 1:2 propensity score matching, 21 COVID-19(+) and 42 COVID-19(–) patients were included in the study. In the COVID-19(+) group, the postoperative complication rate was significantly higher (52.4% vs. 23.8%, P = 0.023).Mechanical ventilator requirement, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and readmission rate did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. The median length of ICU (19 days vs. 4 days, P < 0.001) and hospital stay (18 vs. 8 days, P = 0.015) were significantly longer in the COVID-19(+) group. Patients with COVID-19 had a 2.4 times higher relative risk (RR) of major complications than patients without COVID-19 (RR, 2.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.254–4.467; P = 0.015). Conclusion COVID-19 infection during the postoperative period in gastrointestinal surgery may have adverse outcomes which may increase the risk of major complications. Preoperative COVID-19 screening and protocols for COVID-19 prevention in surgical patients should be maintained.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the short-term outcomes and safety profiles of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT)+abiraterone/prednisone with those of ADT+docetaxel in patients with de novo metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Materials and Methods: A web-based database system was established to collect prospective cohort data for patients with mHSPC in Korea. From May 2019 to November 2022, 928 patients with mHSPC from 15 institutions were enrolled. Among these patients, data from 122 patients who received ADT+abiraterone/prednisone or ADT+docetaxel as the primary systemic treatment for mHSPC were collected. The patients were divided into two groups: ADT+abiraterone/prednisone group (n=102) and ADT+docetaxel group (n=20). We compared the demographic characteristics, medical histories, baseline cancer status, initial laboratory tests, metastatic burden, oncological outcomes for mHSPC, progression after mHSPC treatment, adverse effects, follow-up, and survival data between the two groups. Results: No significant differences in the demographic characteristics, medical histories, metastatic burden, and baseline cancer status were observed between the two groups. The ADT+abiraterone/prednisone group had a lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression rate (7.8% vs. 30.0%; p=0.011) and lower systemic treatment discontinuation rate (22.5% vs. 45.0%; p=0.037). No significant differences in adverse effects, oncological outcomes, and total follow-up period were observed between the two groups. Conclusions ADT+abiraterone/prednisone had lower PSA progression and systemic treatment discontinuation rates than ADT+docetaxel. In conclusion, further studies involving larger, double-blinded randomized trials with extended follow-up periods are necessary.

Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) occurs in all age groups, and the application of treatment may vary according to age. The study was designed to identify the characteristics of CRC by age. Methods: A total of 4,326 patients undergoing primary resection for CRC from September 2006 to July 2019 were reviewed. Patient and tumor characteristics, operative and postoperative data, and oncologic outcome were compared Results: Patients aged 60 to 69 years comprised the largest age group (29.7%), followed by those aged 50 to 59 and 70 to 79 (24.5% and 23.9%, respectively). Rectal cancer was common in all age groups, but right-sided colon cancer tended to be more frequent in older patients. In very elderly patients, there were significant numbers of emergency surgeries, and the frequencies of open surgery and permanent stoma were greater. In contrast, total abdominal colectomy or total proctocolectomy was performed frequently in patients in their teens and twenties. The elderly patients showed more advanced tumor stages and postoperative ileus. The incidence of adjuvant treatment was low in elderly patients, who also had shorter follow-up periods. Overall survival was reduced in older patients with stages 0 to 3 CRC (P<0.001), but disease-free survival did not differ by age (P=0.391). Conclusion CRC screening at an earlier age than is currently undertaken may be necessary in Korea. In addition, improved surgical and oncological outcomes can be achieved through active treatment of the growing number of elderly CRC patients.

Purpose: Febrile neutropenia (FN) can cause suboptimal treatment and treatment-related mortality (TRM) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP). Materials and methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study to evaluate the effectiveness of pegfilgrastim prophylaxis in DLBCL patients receiving R-CHOP, and we compared them with the PROCESS cohort (n=485). Results: Since January 2015, 986 patients with DLBCL were enrolled. Pegfilgrastim was administered at least once in 930 patients (94.3%), covering 90.3% of all cycles. FN developed in 137 patients (13.9%) in this cohort (23.7% in the PROCESS cohort, p<0.001), and 4.2% of all cycles (10.2% in the PROCESS cohort, p<0.001). Dose delay was less common (≥3 days: 18.1% vs. 23.7%, p=0.015; ≥5 days: 12.0% vs. 18.3%, p=0.023) in this cohort than in the PROCESS cohort. The incidence of TRM (3.2% vs. 5.6%, p=0.047) and infection-related death (1.8% vs. 4.5%, p=0.004) was lower in this cohort than in the PROCESS cohort. The 4-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates of the two cohorts were not different (OS: 73.0% vs. 71.9%, p=0.545; PFS: 69.5% vs. 68.8%, p=0.616). However, in patients aged ≥75 years, the 4-year OS and PFS rates were higher in this cohort than in the PROCESS cohort (OS: 49.6% vs. 33.7%, p=0.032; PFS: 44.2% vs. 30.3% p=0.047). Conclusion Pegfilgrastim prophylaxis is effective in the prevention of FN and infection-related death in DLBCL patients receiving R-CHOP, and it also improves OS in patients aged ≥75 years.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is reported less frequently in adults than in children. The most common site of involvement in adults is the bone, accounting for 30-50% of cases. The gastrointestinal tract is very rare, accounting for approximately 2%. We present a case of Langerhans cell histiocytosis that simultaneously invaded multiple organs, including the stomach and colon, in an adult. A 37-year-old woman with no underlying disease complained of chest discomfort and a palpable right submandibular mass. A right Level II neck mass and mediastinal LN enlargement were confirmed on the pharynx and chest CT scan. Multiple subepithelial masses with central ulceration and erosion were observed in the corpus and fundus on the esophagogastroduodenoscopy and in the right colon on the colonoscopy. The histopathology findings were the same in each tissue biopsied from the stomach, colon, and right neck lymph nodes. Langerhans cells with classical reniform nuclei and prominent eosinophils invaded the normal glands, and S100 and CD1a were positive in the immunohistochemical stain. Gastrointestinal involvement of LCH in adults is rare, asymptomatic,and can involve multiple digestive organs simultaneously, so upper endoscopy and colonoscopy should be considered for a diagnosis.

Despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination roll-out, variant-related outbreaks have occurred repeatedly in Korea. Although public hospitals played a major role in COVID-19 patients’ care, difficulty incorporating evolving COVID-19 treatment guidelines called for a clinical pathway (CP). Eighteen public hospitals volunteered, and a professional review board was created. CPs were formulated containing inclusion/exclusion criteria, application flow charts, and standardized order sets. After CP roll-out, key parameters improved, such as increased patient/staff five-point satisfaction scores (0.41/0.57) and decreased hospital stays (1.78 days)/medical expenses (17.5%). The CPs were updated consistently after roll-out as new therapeutics drugs were introduced and quarantine policies changed.

Background/Aims: Delayed diagnosis and treatment of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) are major concerns for TB control. We evaluated characteristics of patients with smear-negative pulmonary TB who received a delayed diagnosis and identified risk factors that may have contributed to this delay. Methods: We reviewed medical records of patients with smear-negative culture-positive pulmonary TB treated at a tertiary care hospital in South Korea between January 2017 and December 2018. Patients who initiated anti-TB treatment after positive cultures were included in the missed TB group, and those who initiated empirical treatment before positive cultures were included in the control group. Results: Of 220 patients included, 117 (53.2%) and 103 (46.8%) were in the missed TB and control groups, respectively. Patients in the missed TB group were older (p = 0.001) and had a higher mean body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.019). Comorbidities (66.9% vs. 46.6%, p = 0.003) and immunocompromised patients (33.1% vs. 20.4%, p = 0.035) were more common in the missed TB group than in the control group. Old age (odds ratio [OR], 1.030; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.012 to 1.048; p = 0.001), high BMI (OR, 1.114; 95% CI, 1.004 to 1.237; p = 0.042), and negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results (OR, 9.551; 95% CI, 4.925 to 18.521; p < 0.001) were associated with delayed diagnosis. Conclusions In more than half of patients with smear-negative pulmonary TB, the diagnosis was delayed. Patients with delayed TB diagnosis were older, had higher BMI, and negative PCR results.

Background: Pyomyositis (PM) is a serious soft tissue infection and despite its clinical importance, previous studies have not been able to fully determine the clinical characteristics and microbial epidemiology of PM in Korea, which we therefore aimed to investigate. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively identified 140 adult patients diagnosed with PM from 13 general hospitals between January 2012 and December 2015. We analyzed the clinical and microbial characteristics of community-onset PM and compared them with communityacquired (CA) and healthcare-associated (HCA) PM. Results: One hundred eleven organisms were isolated from 96 (68.6%) patients with PM.Staphylococcus aureus (38 patients) was the most common pathogen, followed by streptococci (24 patients), and enteric Gram-negative organisms (27 patients). Methicillin-resistant S.aureus (MRSA) was identified in four (2.9%) patients and in-hospital mortality reached 8.6% (12/140). Enterococci isolates were identified in the HCA PM subgroup only The proportion of MRSA isolates was not comparable between CA and HCA PM subgroups. In the 83 patients with PM infected by monomicrobial pathogens, isolates of Gram-negative organisms were more commonly found in HCA PM subgroup than in CA PM subgroup (47.6% [10/21] of patients with HCA PM vs. 20.7% [12/58] of patients with CA PM; P = 0.01). Conclusion Gram-positive cocci such as S. aureus and streptococci were dominant etiologies in community-onset PM, whereas MRSA appears to an uncommon causative organism of PM in Korea. Enteric Gram-negative organisms should also be considered as major etiologies, especially in HCA PM patient population in Korea.

Background: Understanding the changes in emergency department (ED) visit patterns during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is important for effectively operating EDs during the pandemic. We aimed to analyze the changes in pediatric ED visits during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine the relationship between the number of ED visits and the stringency of government social distancing measures. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study used data of pediatric (age < 18 years) ED visits in Seoul metropolitan area from June 1, 2018, to May 31, 2020. Patient demographics, ED results, and diagnoses were compared during the COVID-19 period and the previous year.To evaluate the effect of the stringency of social distancing measures on the number of ED visits, a Poisson regression model was developed with month, year, and the average monthly Government Response Stringency Index (GRSI) as fixed effects. Results: In total, 190,732 patients were included. The number of pediatric ED visits during the COVID-19 period was 58.1% lower than in the previous year. There were disproportionate decreases in the numbers of ED visits for children in early childhood (66.5%), low-acuity children (55.2-63.8%), those who did not use an ambulance (59.0%), and those visiting the ED for noninjury complaints (64.9%). The proportion of admissions increased from 11.9% to 16.6%. For every 10-point increase in the GRSI, there was a 15.1% decrease in monthly ED visits. Conclusion A striking decrease in pediatric ED visits was observed during the COVID-19 outbreak, the scale which was associated with the stringency of government policies.Changes in the number and characteristics of children visiting the ED should be considered to facilitate the effective operation of EDs during the pandemic.

Purpose: Angiosarcoma is a highly aggressive mesenchymal tumor. Although systemic chemotherapy is often considered for the inoperable or metastatic angiosarcoma, the outcome of such treatment is unsatisfactory and poorly delineated. Materials and Methods: We reviewed electronic medical records of 75 patients with angiosarcoma who were treated with systemic chemotherapy for inoperable or metastatic disease. Patients were classified as having liver involvement if they had either primary or metastatic hepatic lesions. Results: Among the patients evaluated, 51 patients were male (68%) and 24 patients (32%) had primary cutaneous angiosarcoma. Liver involvement was present in 28 patients (37.3%). A total of 59 patients received first-line weekly paclitaxel (wPac) and showed an objective response rate (ORR) of 23.7% (n=14), a median progression free survival (mPFS) of 4.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0–6.1), and a median overall survival (mOS) of 10.2 months (95% CI 7.0–14.6). Among patients without liver involvement, patients receiving wPac (n=35) had significantly prolonged mPFS (5.8 vs. 3.2 months, respectively, p=0.014) with a tendency for prolonged mOS (13.8 vs. 11.6 months, respectively, p=0.13) than those receiving other regimens (n=12). A total of 24 patients received second- or later-line pazopanib monotherapy and showed an ORR of 16.7% (n=4), a mPFS of 2.4 months (95% CI 1.8–4.3) and a mOS of 5.4 months (95% CI 3.5–NA). Conclusion Treatment with first-line wPac and later-line pazopanib seems to provide survival benefit, especially for patients with advanced angiosarcoma without liver involvement.