Purpose: Laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction (LPG-DTR) is a function-preserving procedure performed for treating upper early gastric cancer (EGC).However, few studies have compared the outcomes of LPG-DTR with those of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG). This study aimed at comparing the short-term outcomes of LPGDTR between LTG and upper EGC. Materials and Methods: For upper-third EGC, a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial was performed to compare those who underwent LPG-DTR with those who underwent LTG. Short-term outcomes, including clinicopathologic results, morbidity, mortality, and postoperative courses, were evaluated using a full analysis set based on the intention-to-treat principle and the per-protocol set. Results: Of the patients, 138 who fulfilled the criteria were randomized to each group. One patient in the LPG-DTR group withdrew consent. Sixty-eight patients underwent LPGDTR and 69 underwent LTG. The operative time (LPG-DTR=219.4 minutes; LTG=201.8 minutes; P=0.085), estimated blood loss (LPG-DTR=76.0 mL; LTG=66.1 mL; P=0.413), and the morbidity rate (LPG-DTR=23.5%; LTG=17.4%; P=0.373) between the groups were not significantly different. No mortality occurred in either of the study groups. Two weeks post operation, the Visick scores for postprandial symptoms, including reflux symptoms, were not significantly different between the groups (P=0.749). Laboratory findings on postoperative day 5 were not significantly different between the groups. Conclusions The short-term outcomes of LPG-DTR for upper EGC were comparable to those of LTG.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02892643

Tamoxifen (TAM) is an anticancer drug used to treat estrogen receptor (ER)‒positive breast cancer. However, its ER-independent cytotoxic and antifungal activities have prompted debates on its mechanism of action. To achieve a better understanding of the ER-independent antifungal action mechanisms of TAM, we systematically identified TAM-sensitive genes through microarray screening of the heterozygous gene deletion library in fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe). Secondary confirmation was followed by a spotting assay, finally yielding 13 TAM-sensitive genes under the drug-induced haploinsufficient condition. For these 13 TAM-sensitive genes, we conducted a comparative analysis of their Gene Ontology (GO) ‘biological process’ terms identified from other genome-wide screenings of the budding yeast deletion library and the MCF7breast cancer cell line. Several TAM-sensitive genes overlapped between the yeast strains and MCF7 in GO terms including ‘cell cycle’ (cdc2, rik1, pas1, and leo1), ‘signaling’ (sck2, oga1, and cki3), and ‘vesicle-mediated transport’ (SPCC126.08c, vps54, sec72, and tvp15), suggesting their roles in the ER-independent cytotoxic effects of TAM. We recently reported that the cki3 gene with the ‘signaling’ GO term was related to the ER-independent antifungal action mechanisms of TAM in yeast. In this study, we report that haploinsufficiency of the essential vps54 gene, which encodes the GARP complex subunit, significantly aggravated TAM sensitivity and led to an enlarged vesicle structure in comparison with the SP286 control strain. These results strongly suggest that the vesicle-mediated transport process might be another action mechanism of the ER-independent antifungal or cytotoxic effects of TAM.

Purpose: Quality of life (QOL) has become important in the trend of emphasizing patient satisfaction. This study aimed to evaluate the QOL in patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods: A prospective trial was performed involving patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy for primary gastric cancer at 11 hospitals in Korea. Within this comparative trial, QOL, postoperative pain, and long-term complications were exanimated. The quality-of-life questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 and QLQ-STO22 developed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer were used for the QOL survey. We compared the data after dividing it into several types of characteristics as follows; device (robotic or laparoscopic), operation type, pathological stage, and sex.Biased components were extracted by logistic regression analysis. Propensity score matching was applied to the data set with the biased components. Results: In total, 434 patients (211 for laparoscopic surgery and 223 for robotic surgery) were enrolled, out of which 321 patients who responded to both preoperative and postoperative surveys were selected for analysis. Robotic gastrectomy was not different from laparoscopic gastrectomy with respect to postoperative QOL. Distal gastrectomy showed better scores than total gastrectomy in terms of role functioning, social functioning, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnea, constipation, financial difficulties, dysphagia, eating restrictions, anxiety, taste, and body image. Male patients showed better scores on the 19 scales compared to female patients. Conclusion Robotic and laparoscopic approaches for gastric cancer surgery did not differ from each other with respect to QOL. Distal gastrectomy resulted in better QOL than total gastrectomy.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the functional and oncological outcomes of proximal gastrectomy (PG) in comparison with total gastrectomy (TG) for upper-third early gastric cancer (EGC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of upper-third EGC patients who had undergone PG (n=192) or TG (n=157) were reviewed. The PG group was further subdivided into patients who had undergone conventional open PG (cPG; n=157) or modified laparoscopy-assisted PG (mLAPG; n=35). Patients who had undergone mLAPG had a longer portion of their intra-abdominal esophagus preserved than patients who had undergone cPG. Surgical morbidity, recurrence, long-term nutritional status, and the incidence of reflux esophagitis were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The rate of postoperative complications was significantly lower for PG than TG (16.7% vs. 31.2%), but the five-year overall survival rate was comparable between the two groups (99.3% vs. 96.3%). Postoperative levels of hemoglobin and albumin were significantly higher for patients who had undergone PG. However, the incidence of reflux esophagitis was higher for PG than for TG (37.4% vs. 3.7%; P<0.001). mLAPG was related to a lower incidence of reflux esophagitis after PG (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to TG, PG showed an advantage in terms of postoperative morbidity and nutrition, and there was a comparable prognosis between the two procedures. Preserving the intra-abdominal esophagus may lower the incidence of reflux esophagitis associated with PG.
Esophagitis, Peptic* ; Esophagus ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy ; Medical Records ; Nutritional Status ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine proportions of upper third gastric cancer (UTG) among all gastric cancers and analyze clinicopathological features of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 12,300 patients who underwent gastric surgery between 1986 and 2006 at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) were retrospectively reviewed. Clinicopathological features of 1,260 patients with UTG and 9,929 patients with middle or lower third gastric cancer (MLG) were compared, and annual proportions of UTG were evaluated. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with UTG rapidly increased from 2.6% in 1986 to 12.5% in 1992. However, linear regression analysis showed that the rate of increase was reduced (0.21%/year) after 1992 (12.5% to 14.2% from 1992 to 2006). Compared with the MLG group, the UTG group had a lower proportion of (22.3% vs. 39.7%, P<0.001) and a greater proportion of stage III/IV disease (39.4% vs. 31.7%, P<0.001). The UTG group also had larger tumors than the MLG group in stages I/II and III (3.5 cm/5.3 cm/6.5 cm vs. 3.2 cm/5.0 cm/5.8 cm, P=0.020/0.028 /<0.001), a higher proportion of undifferentiated cancer (63.1% vs. 53.7%, P<0.001), and less intestinal Lauren's type (38.8% vs. 47.4%, P<0.001). The 5-year survival rate of the UTG group was significantly lower than that of the MLG group in stages I/II and III (85.6%/63.1%/34.2% vs. 91.6%/ 69.2%/44.7%, P<0.001/0.028/0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of UTGs has increased over the last two decades at SNUH, but the rate of increase has been greatly reduced since 1992. The UTG group showed a poorer prognosis compared with the MLG group in stages I/II and III.
Gastric Fundus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Linear Models ; Medical Records ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine proportions of upper third gastric cancer (UTG) among all gastric cancers and analyze clinicopathological features of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 12,300 patients who underwent gastric surgery between 1986 and 2006 at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) were retrospectively reviewed. Clinicopathological features of 1,260 patients with UTG and 9,929 patients with middle or lower third gastric cancer (MLG) were compared, and annual proportions of UTG were evaluated. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with UTG rapidly increased from 2.6% in 1986 to 12.5% in 1992. However, linear regression analysis showed that the rate of increase was reduced (0.21%/year) after 1992 (12.5% to 14.2% from 1992 to 2006). Compared with the MLG group, the UTG group had a lower proportion of (22.3% vs. 39.7%, P<0.001) and a greater proportion of stage III/IV disease (39.4% vs. 31.7%, P<0.001). The UTG group also had larger tumors than the MLG group in stages I/II and III (3.5 cm/5.3 cm/6.5 cm vs. 3.2 cm/5.0 cm/5.8 cm, P=0.020/0.028 /<0.001), a higher proportion of undifferentiated cancer (63.1% vs. 53.7%, P<0.001), and less intestinal Lauren's type (38.8% vs. 47.4%, P<0.001). The 5-year survival rate of the UTG group was significantly lower than that of the MLG group in stages I/II and III (85.6%/63.1%/34.2% vs. 91.6%/ 69.2%/44.7%, P<0.001/0.028/0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of UTGs has increased over the last two decades at SNUH, but the rate of increase has been greatly reduced since 1992. The UTG group showed a poorer prognosis compared with the MLG group in stages I/II and III.
Gastric Fundus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Linear Models ; Medical Records ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: We wanted to analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with gastric carcinoid tumor, which is a rare gastric tumor (less than 2% of all gastric tumors). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed all the carcinoid patients who were treated from 1996 to 2006. The clinicopathologic characteristics, the treatment modalities and the survival rates were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: There were 8 type I patients and 10 type III patients, but there were no type II patients. The mean age of onset for type I was 47.75 years and that for type III was 57.90 years. More type III patients were female, but the gender ratio of type I patients was equal at a ratio of 1:1. There were 4 cases of solitary tumor, which were all T1 except for one case, and there was neither distant metastasis nor lymph node involvement for the type T1 cases. In the 13 patients who had no metastasis, 5 underwent endoscopic mucosal resection and 8 underwent surgery, and their combined 5 year survival rate was 92.3%. For the 5 cases who had metastastses, their mean survival was 22 months and especially, 3 of them underwent palliative surgery and their median survival were 24 months (95%, +/-6.52). CONCLUSION: Higher incidence of type III gastric carcinoid tumor and less multiplicity in type I gastric tumor were identified in our study compared with previous reports. For the type III cases, there were some noteable differences compared with the Western country's survival rate for the patients who underwent palliative surgery, so physicians must pay close attention to the definite clinicopathologic characteristics of gastric carcinoid patients.
Age of Onset ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Palliative Care ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVES: The study was performed to compare the quality of life and mental health -depression, suicide etc- in homosexual men with those in heterosexual men and to identify how the quality of life is related with mental health. METHODS: 129 homosexual men and 114 heterosexual men in twenties and thirties were enrolled by crosssectional method. Quality of life, depression, suicidal idea, hopelessness, self esteem, coping strategy, social support, social conflict, familiar adaptability and familiar cohesion were measured by self-report scale to compare the homosexual and the heterosexual groups. RESULTS: The results showed that age, educational level, income, alcohol intake, smoking and reli-gion were not significantly different between homosexual group and heterosexual group. Teased experience about feminity, past psychiatric history, HIV test experience in homosexual group were higher than those in heterosexual group. The self- esteem, hopelessness, coping strategy, familiar ada-ptability and social support-conflict were not significantly different between two groups. Homosexual group had poorer quality of life, lower familiar cohesion, higher depression and higher suicidal idea than heterosexual group. Being alienated from home, social system and interpersonal relationship, which are subscales of the quality of life, scored lower by homosexual group as compared with hete-rosexual group. Therefore, high depression and low familiar cohesion had significant effect on the quality of life in homosexual group. CONCLUSION: Although homosexuality is excluded from DSM, the prevalences of many mental health problems are higher in homosexual group than heterosexual group. It is suggested that the more studies on depression and familiar function related to homosexuality are needed.
Depression ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Heterosexuality* ; HIV ; Homosexuality* ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health* ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life* ; Self Concept ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Suicide

An one day old female baby was admitted to the Pediatric department of Korea University Anam Hospital for the evaluation of her facial anomaly. She was born by spontaneous vaginal delivery at term weighing 3.8 kg. On initial examination, she was noted to have congenital trismus and have cleft lip and palate. Bands of fibrous tissue were noted to extend from the superior alveolar part to inferior part at decidual molar tooth region and allowed oral opening of only 5 mm. She was transfered to the Plastic Surgery department under the diagnosis of cleft palate lateral synechia syndrome for resection of her synechial bands. In the operating room ECG, pulse oximeter and precordial stethoscope were applied to the patient and then, anesthesia was induced with , O2, N2O and enflurane. The 60 cm Olympus fiberscope with an external diameter of 2 mm was used and well lubricated 3.0 mm uncuffed endotracheal tube was threaded over the fiberscope through the oral cavity. The fiberscope was advanced into the midtrachea, then the endotracheal tube was passed over the fiberscope into the trachea After securing of the endotracheal tube, two lateral synechial bands were surgically divided. She tolerated oral feedings on postoperative 5 days without difficulty and discharged from the hospital on postoperative 6 days.
Anesthesia ; Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate* ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Enflurane ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intubation* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Korea ; Molar ; Mouth ; Operating Rooms ; Palate ; Stethoscopes ; Surgery, Plastic ; Tooth ; Trachea ; Trismus

Nosocomial infection represent a significant cause of patient morbidity and mortality, especially in the ICU and nosocomial pneumonia that cause high mortality may arise from contaminated respiratory equipments. This study was done to investigate the relationship of micro-organisms in upper respiratory tract and ventilatory equipment, especially humidifier. The total number of cases in this study was 20 and the specimen for bacteriologic culture were taken from the pharynx, the distilled water and the inner wall of humidifier and toilet of trachea at the 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 hours after initiation of mechanical ventilation. The results obtained from the bacteriologic culture were as follows. 1) The most frequently found organism at the pharynx was Pseudomonas aeruginosa and next was Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus, followed by Streptococcus viridans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus group D, Enterobacter agglomerans, Acinetobacter spp. 2) The most frequently found organism at the trachea was Pseudomonas aeruginosa and next was Klebsiella pneumoniae followed by Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus, Streptocoecus viridans, Pseudomonas picketti, Staphylococcus aureus and no growth in 5 cases. 3) The most frequently found organism in the fluid of humidifier was Pseudomonas aeruginosa and next was Pseudomonas picketti, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus group D and no growth in 2 cases. 4) The most frequently found organism at the pharynx was Pseudomonas aeruginosa and next was Pseudomonas picketti, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus group D, Serratia liquefacines, Acinetobacter spp and no growth in 3 cases. 5) The number of isolated organisms in the fluid of humidifier was 3 at 0 hour and 18 after 48 hours and at the wall 2 at 0 hour and 15 after 48 hours. 6) The number of same organism that was isolated between the pharynx and trachea was 13 among 15 cases and between the wall and fluid of humidifier was 15 among 16 cases and between trachea and fluid of humidifier was 10 among 14 cases.
Acinetobacter ; Coagulase ; Cross Infection ; Enterobacter ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Mortality ; Pharynx ; Pneumonia ; Pseudomonas ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory System ; Serratia ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Trachea ; Ventilators, Mechanical* ; Viridans Streptococci ; Water