No abstract available.
Adenoma*

BACKGROUND: Tumor angiogenesis is required for tumor growth and metastasis. In this study, we investigated the correlation between the intensity of angiogenesis and stage, nodal status, histologic type, metastasis and survival rate of non-small cell lung cancer. METHOD: Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded surgical specimens of 45 patients who had surgically resected primary non-small cell lung cancers without pre or post perative adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy were examined. The microvessel count(MVC) was demonstrated by immunohistochemical staining for CD31(platelet ednothlial cell adhesion molecule, PECAM). RESULTS: Microvessel counts(MVCs)in stage IIIA and IIIB were higher than in stage I and II(p<0.05). The MVC in patients with lymph node metastasis was higher than that in patients without lymph node metastasis, although the difference was not statistically significant(p>0.05). However, in adenocarcinoma, the MVC in patients with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that seen in patients without lymph node metastasis(p<0.05). The MVC in adenocaricinoma was higher than that in squamous cell carcinoma(p<0.05). The difference between the MVCs of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma was not statistically significant in stage Iand II or NO stage(p>0.05). However, in stage IIIA and IIIB or N1~3 stage, the MVC in adenocarcinoma was higher than that in squamous cell carcinoma(p<0.05). MVC was more increased when metastasis developed within 12 months. In the same histologic type and stage, the duration of survival time in patients with high MVC was shorter than in patients with low MVC, however the difference was not statistically significant(p>0.05). The survival rate in patients with high MVCs was lower than that in patients with low MVCs(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In non-small cell lung cancer, MVC correlated relatively well with pathologic stage, nodal status (limited in patients with adenocarcinoma), histologic type, postoperative metastasis and survival rate. However, in the same histologic type and stage, MVC was not significantly related to the duration of survival. Therefore the assessment of the intensity of angiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer may be helpful in predicting prognosis and in selecting patients for systemic adjuvant therapy of potential metastasis according to the results.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Adhesion ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin ; Prognosis* ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Coal workers' pneumoconiosis is a fibrotic lung disease resulting from chronic inhalation of coal dust. The precise mechanism of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis is uncertain. However, a relationship between the stimulation of fibroblast proliferation and collagen production by mediators released from inflammatory and resident lung cells is thought to be a major factor. The transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β), a multifunctional cytokine and growth factor, plays a key role in the scarring and fibrotic processes due to its ability to induce extracellular matrix proteins and modulate the growth and immune function of many cell types. To determine the involvement of TGF-βin the development of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis, the TGF-β1 level in plasma was measured in patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. METHODS: Plasma was collected from 40 patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (20 with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis and 20 with complicated coal workers' pneumoconiosis) and from 10 normal controls. The ELISA method was used to measure the plasma TGF-β1 concentration. RESULTS: Compared to the control group (0.63±0.18 ng/mL), there was no significant difference in the plasma TGF-β1 level in patients with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis (0.64±0.17 ng/mL) (p>.05). However, in patients with complicated coal workers' pneumoconiosis the plasma TGF-β1 level (0.79±0.18 ng/mL) was significantly higher than in patients with simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis and control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The data suggests that TGF-β1 has some influence in the development of lung fibrosis in coal workers' pneumoconiosis.
Cicatrix ; Coal* ; Collagen ; Dust ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Plasma* ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Pulmonary Fibrosis

Endoscopy-related infections are important contributors to nosocomial infections. Endoscope reprocessing according to standard guidelines ensures high-level disinfection and prevents endoscopy-related infections. Microbiological surveillance may help in monitoring the effectiveness of gastrointestinal endoscope disinfection. The process involves microbial cultures and non-culture methods such as bioburden assays, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence, and quantitative polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). Surveillance culturing to monitor endoscopes after reprocessing has been recommended by a majority of organizations. Bioburden assays, ATP bioluminescence, and quantitative PCRs provide rapid and reliable measures. Each institution will have to try to establish its own surveillance guidelines.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Cross Infection ; Disinfection* ; Endoscopes ; Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUND: Coal workers' pneumoconiosis(CWP) is a fibrotic lung disease resulting from the chronic inhalation of coal dust. Various cytokines and growth factors secreted from macrophages and monocytes play a key r ole in the pathogenesis of penumoconiosis. The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and the insulin-like growth factor(IGF)-1 secreted from the macrophages and monocytes are believed to stimulate the accumulation of mesenchymal cells and fibrosis of the lower respiratory tract that is observed in fibrotic lung disease. The serum concentration of PDGF-BB and IGF-1 in 30 CWP patients and 10 healthy controls were measured in order to determine if PDGF-BB and IGF-1 can be used as sensitive biomarkers in CWP. METHODS: Serum was collected from 30 patients with CWP (13 with simple CWP and 17 with complicated CWP) and 10 healthy controls. The serum concentrations of PDGF-BB and IGF-1 were measured using ELISA (RandD system, Minneapolis, MN). RESULTS: The serum PDGF-BB concentration in patients with complicated CWP (10083.76+/-639.07 pg/ml) was significantly higher than in the patients with simple CWP(8493.88+/-848.51 pg/ml) and the healthy controls (3726.17+/-292.20pg/ml)(p<0.05). Compared to the healthy controls (413.40+/-1.94ng/ml), there was no significant difference in the serum IGF-1 concentration in patients with simple (366.77+/-183.67ng/ml) and complicated CWP (403.18+/-15.39ng/ml)(p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results show the important role of the PDGF-BB mediated pathways in the pathogenesis of CWP. These data suggests that the PDGF-BB serum concentration is a useful biomarkers of the fibrotic extent in CWP patients.
Biomarkers ; Coal* ; Cytokines ; Dust ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Lung Diseases ; Macrophages ; Monocytes ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Respiratory System

Sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma is extremely invasive malignant tumor that has a histological characteristic of having both more than one epithelial and mesothelial tissue components. It is a rare cancer of having less than 50 cases reported until now and domestically. This case presents a 51 year-old male who had nasal stuffiness for 2 months. A mass was noticed in his right nasal cavity, and histopathologic findings revealed the mass as a teratocarcinosarcoma. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed that the mass originated from right nasal septum and did not invade the sinuses and that it was touching the inferior turbinate. No cervical lymph node metastasis was observed (T2N0M0, Stage II). Wide excision of the mass was performed, and no invasion in the resection margin was confirmed. Radiotherapy was performed postoperatively. Currently, the patient has been followed up on a regular basis for 28 months. Thus, the authors present a report of very rare sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma.
Carcinosarcoma ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Septum ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nose Neoplasms ; Teratoma ; Turbinates

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Insufficient systematic reviews were conducted in the previous meta-analyses about the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with CKD. METHODS: A systematic review of studies that evaluated the prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with CKD compared to a control group was performed. Only studies with adult patients were included, and studies with renal transplant recipients or diabetic nephropathy patients were excluded. Random-effects model meta-analyses with sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses were conducted to confirm the robustness of the main result. A meta-regression analysis was conducted to explore the influence of potential heterogeneity on the outcomes. The methodological quality of the included publications was evaluated using the Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Nonrandomized Studies. Publication bias was also assessed. RESULTS: In total, 47 studies were identified and analyzed. The total prevalence of H. pylori infection was 48.2% (1,968/4,084) in patients with CKD and 59.3% (4,097/6,908) in the control group. Pooled analysis showed a significantly lower prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with CKD (vs control group: odds ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.52 to 0.79). Sensitivity analyses revealed consistent results, and meta-regression analysis showed no significant confounders. No publication bias was detected. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest a lower prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with CKD.
Adult ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Helicobacter pylori ; Helicobacter ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Population Characteristics ; Prevalence ; Publication Bias ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Transplant Recipients

Background: Early prediction of bacteremia is important because sepsis may develop if bacteremia is not treated in time. We aimed to determine whether blood tests are clinically useful in predicting gram-negative versus gram-positive bacteremia. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 16,569 patients who underwent blood culture testing among those who visited St. Mary’s Hospital of Uijeongbu, Catholic University from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. After excluding 15,580 patients with insufficient data for analysis, the total study population was 989. Results: In the multivariable logistic regression analysis for gram-negative bacteremia, after adjusting for major variables, procalcitonin (odds ratio [OR] 1.02, P < 0.001), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (OR 1.03, P = 0.010), and albumin (OR 0.55, P = 0.010) were significant. In the same model, lactic acid (OR 1.08, P = 0.010), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (OR 1.02, P = 0.010), and albumin (OR 0.50, P = 0.005) were significant for gram-positive bacteremia.We constructed blood indicators by combining blood tests that were significant in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Comparing the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve, the AUC of the procalcitonin/albumin ratio in gramnegative bacteremia was significantly higher than that of procalcitonin (0.846 vs. 0.837, P = 0.005), and the AUC of the BUN/albumin ratio in gram-positive bacteremia was significantly higher than that of BUN (0.709 vs. 0.679, P = 0.007). Conclusion The procalcitonin/albumin ratio is expected to be helpful in the early prediction of gram-negative bacteremia, whereas the BUN/albumin ratio in the early prediction of grampositive bacteremia.

Primary lung cancer can metastasize by a direct local extension, hematogenous dessemination, and lymphatic spread. However, it less commonly metastasizes via a transbronchial invasion. A pproximately half of all patients with lung cancer have metastases at the initial presentation. Autopsy data showed that there are an average of 4.8 metastatic sites. The most common sites for metastases include the lymph nodes, liver, adrenal gland, bone, and brain. However, clinically significant metastases isolated in the small bowel seldom occur. Here we report a case of lung cancer with a small bowel metastasis.
Adrenal Glands ; Autopsy ; Brain ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

Background/Aims: Enzymatic analysis of aspartate/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) does not exactly represent the progression of liver fibrosis or inflammation. Immunoassay for AST (cytoplasmic [c] AST/mitochondrial [m] AST) and ALT (ALT1/ALT2) has been suggested as one alternatives for enzymatic analysis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of immunoassay in predicting liver fibrosis and inflammation. Methods: A total of 219 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who underwent hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and liver biopsy before antiviral therapy were recruited. Serum samples were prepared from blood during HVPG. Results of biochemical parameters including enzymatic AST/ALT and immunological assays of cAST, mAST, ALT1, and ALT2 through sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) immunoassay with fluorescence labeled monoclonal antibodies were compared with the results of METAVIR stage of live fibrosis and the Knodell grade of inflammation. Results: METAVIR fibrosis stages were as follows: F0, six (3%); F1, 52 (24%); F2, 88 (40%); F3, 45 (20%); and F4, 28 patients (13%). Mean levels of AST and ALT were 121 ± 157 and 210 ± 279 IU/L, respectively. Mean HVPG score of all patients was 4.7 ± 2.5 mmHg. According to the stage of liver fibrosis, HVPG score (p < 0.001, r = 0.439) and ALT1 level (p < 0.001, r = 0.283) were significantly increased in all samples from patients with CHB. ALT (p < 0.001, r = 0.310), ALT1 (p < 0.001, r = 0.369), and AST (p < 0.001, r = 0.374) levels were positively correlated with Knodell grade of inflammation. Conclusions ALT1 measurement by utilizing sandwich ELISA immunoassay can be useful method for predicting inf lammation grade and fibrosis stage in patients with CHB.