Osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures cause socioeconomic concerns, and medical system and policies appear insufficient to prepare for these issues in Korea, where the older adult population is rapidly increasing. Many countries around the world are already responding to osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures by adopting fracture liaison service (FLS), and such an attempt has only begun in Korea. In this article, we introduce the operation methods for institutions implementing FLS and characteristics of services, and activities of the FLS Committee for FLS implementation in the Korean Society for Bone and Mineral Research. In addition, we hope that the current position statement will contribute to the implementation of FLS in Korea and impel policy changes to enable a multidisciplinary and integrated FLS operated under the medical system.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are water channel proteins that facilitate the transport of water molecules across cell membranes. To date, seven AQPs have been found to be expressed in mammal kidneys. The cellular localization and regulation of the transport properties of AQPs in the kidney have been widely investigated. Autophagy is known as a highly conserved lysosomal pathway, which degrades cytoplasmic components. Through basal autophagy, kidney cells maintain their functions and structure. As a part of the adaptive responses of the kidney, autophagy may be altered in response to stress conditions. Recent studies revealed that autophagic degradation of AQP2 in the kidney collecting ducts leads to impaired urine concentration in animal models with polyuria. Therefore, the modulation of autophagy could be a therapeutic approach to treat water balance disorders. However, as autophagy is either protective or deleterious, it is crucial to establish an optimal condition and therapeutic window where autophagy induction or inhibition could yield beneficial effects. Further studies are needed to understand both the regulation of autophagy and the interaction between AQPs and autophagy in the kidneys in renal diseases, including nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

Vincristine (VCR) is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used in treatment of malignancies. However, VCR has a limitation in use since it commonly causes a painful neuropathy (VCR-induced peripheral neuropathy, VIPN). Inflammatory cytokines secreted by immune cells such as macrophages can exacerbate allodynia and hyperalgesia, because inhibiting the inflammatory response is a treatment target for VIPN. In this study, we investigated whether Trichinella spiralis, a widely studied helminth for its immunomodulatory abilities, can alleviate VCR-induced allodynia. Von Frey test showed that T. spiralis infection improved mechanical allodynia at 10 days after VCR injection. We further observed whether the difference was due to mitigated axon degeneration, but no significant difference between the groups in axonal degeneration in sciatic nerves and intra-epidermal nerve fibers was found. Conversely, we observed that number of infiltrated macrophages was decreased in the sciatic nerves of the T. spiralis infected mice. Moreover, treatment of T. spiralis excretory-secretory products caused peritoneal macrophages to secrete decreased level of IL-1β. This study suggests that T. spiralis can relieve VCR-induced mechanical allodynia by suppressing neuroinflammation and that application of controllable degree of helminth may prove beneficial for VIPN treatment.

BACKGROUND: There was no practical guideline for the management of patients with central nervous system tumor in Korea for many years. Thus, the Korean Society for Neuro-Oncology (KSNO), a multidisciplinary academic society, has developed the guideline for glioblastoma. Subsequently, the KSNO guideline for World Health Organization (WHO) grade II cerebral glioma in adults is established. METHODS: The Working Group was composed of 35 multidisciplinary medical experts in Korea. References were identified by searching PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases using specific and sensitive keywords as well as combinations of keywords regarding diffuse astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma of brain in adults. RESULTS: Whenever radiological feature suggests lower grade glioma, the maximal safe resection if feasible is recommended globally. After molecular and histological examinations, patients with diffuse astrocytoma, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype without molecular feature of glioblastoma should be primarily treated by standard brain radiotherapy and adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy (Level III) while those with molecular feature of glioblastoma should be treated following the protocol for glioblastomas. In terms of patients with diffuse astrocytoma, IDH-mutant and oligodendroglioma (IDH-mutant and 1p19q codeletion), standard brain radiotherapy and adjuvant PCV (procarbazine+lomustine+vincristine) combination chemotherapy should be considered primarily for the high-risk group while observation with regular follow up should be considered for the low-risk group. CONCLUSION: The KSNO's guideline recommends that WHO grade II gliomas should be treated by maximal safe resection, if feasible, followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy according to molecular and histological features of tumors and clinical characteristics of patients.
Adult ; Astrocytoma ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glioblastoma ; Glioma ; Humans ; Isocitrate Dehydrogenase ; Korea ; Oligodendroglioma ; Radiotherapy ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND: There was no practical guideline for the management of patients with central nervous system tumor in Korea in the past. Thus, the Korean Society for Neuro-Oncology (KSNO), a multidisciplinary academic society, developed the guideline for glioblastoma successfully and published it in Brain Tumor Research and Treatment, the official journal of KSNO, in April 2019. Recently, the KSNO guideline for World Health Organization (WHO) grade III cerebral glioma in adults has been established. METHODS: The Working Group was composed of 35 multidisciplinary medical experts in Korea. References were identified by searches in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases using specific and sensitive keywords as well as combinations of keywords. Scope of the disease was confined to cerebral anaplastic astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma in adults. RESULTS: Whenever radiological feature suggests high grade glioma, maximal safe resection if feasible is globally recommended. After molecular and histological examinations, patients with anaplastic astrocytoma, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutant should be primary treated by standard brain radiotherapy and adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy whereas those with anaplastic astrocytoma, NOS, and anaplastic astrocytoma, IDH-wildtype should be treated following the protocol for glioblastomas. In terms of anaplastic oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and 1p19q-codeletion, and anaplastic oligodendroglioma, NOS should be primary treated by standard brain radiotherapy and neoadjuvant or adjuvant PCV (procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine) combination chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The KSNO's guideline recommends that WHO grade III cerebral glioma of adults should be treated by maximal safe resection if feasible, followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy according to molecular and histological features of tumors.
Adult ; Astrocytoma ; Brain ; Brain Neoplasms ; Central Nervous System ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Glioblastoma ; Glioma ; Humans ; Isocitrate Dehydrogenase ; Korea ; Lomustine ; Oligodendroglioma ; Radiotherapy ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND: There has been no practical guidelines for the management of patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors in Korea for many years. Thus, the Korean Society for Neuro-Oncology (KSNO), a multidisciplinary academic society, started to prepare guidelines for CNS tumors from February 2018. METHODS: The Working Group was composed of 35 multidisciplinary medical experts in Korea. References were identified through searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL using specific and sensitive keywords as well as combinations of keywords. RESULTS: First, the maximal safe resection if feasible is recommended. After the diagnosis of a glioblastoma with neurosurgical intervention, patients aged ≤70 years with good performance should be treated by concurrent chemoradiotherapy with temozolomide followed by adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy (Stupp's protocol) or standard brain radiotherapy alone. However, those with poor performance should be treated by hypofractionated brain radiotherapy (preferred)±concurrent or adjuvant temozolomide, temozolomide alone (Level III), or supportive treatment. Alternatively, patients aged >70 years with good performance should be treated by hypofractionated brain radiotherapy+concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide or Stupp's protocol or hypofractionated brain radiotherapy alone, while those with poor performance should be treated by hypofractionated brain radiotherapy alone or temozolomide chemotherapy if the patient has methylated MGMT gene promoter (Level III), or supportive treatment. CONCLUSION: The KSNO's guideline recommends that glioblastomas should be treated by maximal safe resection, if feasible, followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy according to the individual comprehensive condition of the patient.
Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Glioblastoma ; Humans ; Korea ; Radiotherapy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the advantages and limitations of using fibrin glue for securing bioresorbable panels to reconstruct the fractured orbital floor by transantral approach. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective study was conducted from July 2009 to July 2015 in 35 patients with pure orbital floor fractures. Nineteen patients underwent reduction surgery for inserting the bioresorbable panel and 16 patients underwent reduction surgery using fibrin glue for securing the bioresorbable panel via a transantral approach. In both groups, a chart review of preoperative and postoperative ocular symptoms, operation records, and complications was conducted. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between two groups in the demographic data of patients. Comparing the surgical outcomes between two groups, diplopia and mean discrepancy between fractured bone chip and intact orbital floor based on computed tomography scans showed much better results in the group that used bioresorbable panel secured by fibrin glue than in the bioresorbable only group. Furthermore, we carried out revision operations in six cases in the bioresorbable panel only group, where we found that the main cause of fracture to be the dislocation of bioresorbable panel. On the other hand, in the bioresorbable panel secured by the fibrin glue group, there were no reoperation and postsurgical complications. CONCLUSION: During the course of the study, we sensed orbital floor fracture repair using bioresorbable panel secured by fibrin glue via a transantral approach as an easy and effective technique with good postoperative results, and minimal implant related complications. This novel procedure is recommended as a surgical option for the reduction of orbital floor fractures, especially in large and posterior fractures.
Diplopia ; Dislocations ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive* ; Fibrin* ; Hand ; Humans ; Methods ; Orbit* ; Orbital Fractures ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies

Five medical students in the fourth-year took anatomy as their elective courses for 1 month. They dissected one cadaver, and investigated Digital Report, under the course subjects as follows; (1) the shape of thyroid gland and the location of its isthmus, (2) the branches of left and right coronary arteries, (3) the number of blood vessels and bronchi on the hilum of lung, (4) topographical relationship of the renal vessels and ureter, and the shape of the renal pelvis, (5) the location and attachment of the appendix, (6) the penetration of median nerve through the pronator teres, (7) the sensory nerves and the extensor tendons on the dorsum of hand, (8) the branches of deep femoral artery. The pancreatic and live samples were processed and stained with H&E, for LM observation, since the individual had suffered from pancreatic cancer and got a Pylorus preserving pancreatico-duodenectomy (PPPD). At the last step of the elective course, students wrote small articles following the conventional method for writing manuscript. From the viewpoint of professor, the anatomy course for the fourth-year students were definitely different from that for first-year students, and had many positive effects in terms of anatomy education.
Appendix ; Blood Vessels ; Bronchi ; Cadaver ; Coronary Vessels ; Education ; Femoral Artery ; Hand ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis ; Lung ; Median Nerve ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Pylorus ; Students, Medical* ; Tendons ; Thyroid Gland ; Ureter ; Writing

The standardization committee of the Korean Society for Laboratory Hematology sought to establish standardized testing guidelines for the diagnosis of hematologic malignancies. The guidelines were developed on the basis of survey results and international guidelines, including the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines and European LeukemiaNet recommendations. The committee expects that the diagnostic guidelines presented here will enhance diagnostic test standardization and clinical decision making and that the novel developments due to new molecular technologies will be integrated into the diagnostic algorithms through ongoing consensus initiatives.
Consensus ; Decision Making ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Hematologic Neoplasms* ; Hematology

PURPOSE: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaire-OG25 was developed to evaluate the quality of life in patients with stomach and esophageal cancer. The following are included in the OG25 but not in the STO22: odynophagia, choked when swallowing, weight loss, trouble eating with others, trouble swallowing saliva, trouble talking, and trouble with coughing. In this study, we evaluated the quality of life of gastrectomized patients using both, the OG25 and the STO22. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 138 patients with partial gastrectomy (PG) (distal gastrectomy=91; pylorus-preserving gastrectomy= 47) and 44 patients with total gastrectomy (TG) were prospectively evaluated. Body weight and scores from the OG25 and STO22 were evaluated preoperatively and at 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: Patients with TG had significant weight loss compared to patients with PG. At 3 months, TG was associated with worse scores for dysphagia, eating, odynophagia, trouble eating with others, trouble with taste, and weight loss on the OG25. TG was also associated with dysphagia, eating restrictions, and anxiety on the STO22. The OG25 helped differentiate between the groups with respect to weight loss, odynophagia, choked when swallowing, and trouble eating with others. The OG25 scores changed over time and were significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: The OG25 is a more sensitive and useful scale than the STO22 for evaluating the quality of life of gastrectomized patients, especially those with total gastrectomy.
Anxiety ; Body Weight ; Cough ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Eating ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life* ; Saliva ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Weight Loss