The Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology (KSGO) had been making an effort to standardize and enhance the quality of domestic uterine corpus cancer treatment by developing updated clinical practice guidelines in 2021. The KSGO revised the guidelines based on a literature search using 4 key elements: Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome framework. These elements include the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in recurrent/advanced endometrial cancer patients who have failed platinum-based chemotherapy, as well as the effect of combined treatment with trastuzumab in patients with HER2eu-positive endometrial cancer. Additionally, the guideline assessed the efficacy and safety of omitting lymph node dissection in low-risk endometrial cancer patients, investigated the effect of sentinel lymph node mapping in early-stage endometrial cancer surgery, addressed the outcome of chemoradiation therapy as a postoperative treatment in patients with advanced (stage III–IVA) endometrial cancer, and explored the impact of initial treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors on survival in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer patients.

The Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology (KSGO) had been making an effort to standardize and enhance the quality of domestic uterine corpus cancer treatment by developing updated clinical practice guidelines in 2021. The KSGO revised the guidelines based on a literature search using 4 key elements: Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome framework. These elements include the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in recurrent/advanced endometrial cancer patients who have failed platinum-based chemotherapy, as well as the effect of combined treatment with trastuzumab in patients with HER2eu-positive endometrial cancer. Additionally, the guideline assessed the efficacy and safety of omitting lymph node dissection in low-risk endometrial cancer patients, investigated the effect of sentinel lymph node mapping in early-stage endometrial cancer surgery, addressed the outcome of chemoradiation therapy as a postoperative treatment in patients with advanced (stage III–IVA) endometrial cancer, and explored the impact of initial treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors on survival in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer patients.

The Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology (KSGO) had been making an effort to standardize and enhance the quality of domestic uterine corpus cancer treatment by developing updated clinical practice guidelines in 2021. The KSGO revised the guidelines based on a literature search using 4 key elements: Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome framework. These elements include the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in recurrent/advanced endometrial cancer patients who have failed platinum-based chemotherapy, as well as the effect of combined treatment with trastuzumab in patients with HER2eu-positive endometrial cancer. Additionally, the guideline assessed the efficacy and safety of omitting lymph node dissection in low-risk endometrial cancer patients, investigated the effect of sentinel lymph node mapping in early-stage endometrial cancer surgery, addressed the outcome of chemoradiation therapy as a postoperative treatment in patients with advanced (stage III–IVA) endometrial cancer, and explored the impact of initial treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors on survival in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer patients.

Background/Aims: Biofeedback therapy is widely used to treat patients with chronic constipation, especially those with dyssynergic defecation. Yet, the utility of high-resolution manometry with novel parameters in the prediction of biofeedback response has not been reported. Thus, we constructed a model for predicting biofeedback therapy responders by applying the concept of integrated pressurized volume in patients undergoing high-resolution anorectal manometry. Methods: Seventy-one female patients (age: 48-68 years) with dyssynergic defecation who underwent initial high-resolution anorectal manometry and subsequent biofeedback therapy were enrolled. The manometry profiles were used to calculate the 3-dimensional integrated pressurized volumes by multiplying the distance, time, and amplitude during simulated evacuation. Partial least squares regression was performed to generate a predictive model for responders to biofeedback therapy by using the integrated pressurized volume parameters. Results: Fifty-five (77.5%) patients responded to biofeedback therapy. The responders and non-responders did not show significant differences in the conventional manometric parameters. The partial least squares regression model used a linear combination of eight integrated pressurized volume parameters and generated an area under the curve of 0.84 (95% confidence interval: 0.76-0.95, P < 0.01), with 85.5% sensitivity and 62.1% specificity. Conclusions Integrated pressurized volume parameters were better than conventional parameters in predicting the responsiveness to biofeedback therapy, and the combination of these parameters and partial least squares regression was particularly promising. Integrated pressurized volume parameters can more effectively explain the physiology of the anorectal canal compared with conventional parameters.

Non-fluent variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA), a subtype of frontotemporal lobar dementia syndrome, has been proven to have various pathological diagnoses. A 63-year-old woman and 71-year-old man separately visited our clinic for language dysfunction. Both patients showed non-fluent speech. The female patient showed personality change accompanied by language dysfunction, while the male patient had parkinsonian symptoms such as bradykinesia and cogwheel rigidity. Both patients were clinically diagnosed with nfvPPA. Several years after the first visit, the patients died, and a brain autopsy was performed. On postmortem examination, the female patient was pathologically diagnosed with Pick’s disease, while the male patient was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy. Our report suggests that nfvPPA patients might show distinct clinical features depending on underlying pathologies.

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the incidence of vasovagal reactions (VVRs) and the efficacy of lidocaine injection for prevention. Methods: One hundred seventeen patients diagnosed with hemorrhoids and scheduled to undergo a stapled hemorrhoidopexy (SH) were randomly divided according to submucosal injection to the rectum: lidocaine group (n = 53, lidocaine injected just before full closure of the stapler) and control group (n = 58). Outcomes included baseline patient characteristics (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and previous VVR history), vital signs during the operation, incidence of VVRs (hypotension, bradycardia, dizziness, diaphoresis, and nausea/vomiting), and postoperative complications (pain, bleeding, and urinary retention). Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. The number of patients with lower abdominal pain after firing the stapler and incidence of dizziness were lower for the lidocaine group than for the control group (9.4% vs. 25.9%, P = 0.017; 0% vs. 8.6%, P = 0.035, respectively). However, there were no significant between-group differences in incidence of nausea and diaphoresis (0% vs. 3.4%, P = 0.172) and syncope (1.9% vs. 3.4%, P = 0.612). Fewer patients in the lidocaine group complained of postoperative pain (41.5% vs. 58.6%, P = 0.072), and these patients used analgesics less frequently than those in the control group (28.3% vs. 36.2%, P = 0.374). Conclusion Patients who received a submucosal lidocaine injection prior to SH experienced less lower abdominal pain and dizziness compared with those who received standard treatment. A larger, more detailed prospective study is needed for further analysis.

PURPOSE: Hospital stays after laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer tend to be much shorter than those after conventional open surgery. Many factors, including surgical outcomes and complications, are associated with patient discharge planning. However, few studies have analyzed the impact of patient subjective discomfort (including pain and fatigue) on the decision to discharge after surgery. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine how patient pain and fatigue play a role in the decision to discharge after laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer. METHODS: Between March 2014 and February 2015, we conducted a questionnaire survey of 91 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer to estimate the expectation criteria for discharge and patient subjective discomfort at that time. Patients were divided into the following 2 groups: group A, those who complied with the medical professional’s decision to discharge; and group B, those who refused discharge despite the medical professional’s decision. The participants’ subjective factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Preoperatively, 78 of 91 patients (85.7%) identified activity level, amount of food (tolerance), and bowel movements as important factors that should be considered in the decision to discharge a patient postoperatively. Postoperatively, 17 patients (18.7%) refused discharge despite a discharge recommendation. Subjective pain and fatigue were significantly different in linear-by-linear association between the group of patients who agreed to be discharge and those who disagreed. Despite this difference, there was no significant difference in mean length of hospital stay between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: A patient’s subjective feelings of pain and fatigue can impact their decision regarding hospital discharge.
Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Patient Discharge

PURPOSE: Currently, many operations are performed using the single-incision laparoscopic method. Although there have been recent reports on single-incision laparoscopic ileostomy, none have compared this method to conventional laparoscopic ileostomy. This study aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of single-incision laparoscopic ileostomy for anastomotic leakage following laparoscopic low anterior resections. METHODS: From April 2012 to April 2017, 38 patients underwent laparoscopic ileostomy (single-incision; 19 patients referred to as group A, conventional laparoscopy; 19 patients referred to as group B) for anastomotic leakage following laparoscopic low anterior resection. We analyzed surgical and clinical outcomes between the 2 groups. Patients in whom a protective ileostomy was carried out during the initial laparoscopic low anterior resection were excluded from this study. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of patient demographics and initial operation details. Incisional surgical site infections occurred less in group A than in group B (2 of 19 vs. 9 of 19, P = 0.029). The median ileostomy operation time, amount of intraoperative bleeding, parastomal hernia ratio, hospital stay duration after ileostomy, postoperative pain score were not significantly different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Single-incision laparoscopic ileostomy is safe and feasible method of fecal diversion for anastomotic leakage following laparoscopic low anterior resection.
Anastomotic Leak* ; Demography ; Hemorrhage ; Hernia ; Humans ; Ileostomy* ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Methods* ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Pain, Postoperative ; Surgical Wound Infection

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) with augmentation by blonanserin in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: aA total of 100 patients with schizophrenia who were partially or completely unresponsive to treatment with an AAP were recruited in this 12-week, open-label, non-comparative, multicenter study. Blonanserin was added to their existing AAP regimen, which was maintained during the study period. Efficacy was primarily evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12. Predictors for PANSS response (≥20% reduction) were investigated. RESULTS: The PANSS total score was significantly decreased at 12 weeks of blonanserin augmentation (-21.0±18.1, F=105.849, p<0.001). Moreover, 51.0% of participants experienced a response at week 12. Premature discontinuation of blonanserin occurred in 17 patients (17.0%); 4 of these patients dropped out due to adverse events. The patients who benefited the most from blonanserin were those with severe symptoms despite a treatment with a higher dose of AAP. CONCLUSION: Blonanserin augmentation could be an effective strategy for patients with schizophrenia who were partially or completely unresponsive to treatment with an AAP.
Antipsychotic Agents* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies* ; Schizophrenia

PURPOSE: We aimed to examine the effect of gum chewing after laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery in Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine. We divided the patients into 2 groups: group A consisted of 67 patients who did not chew gum; group B consisted of 65 patients who chewed gum. We analyzed the short-term clinical outcomes between the two groups to evaluate the effect of gum chewing. RESULTS: The first passage of gas was slightly earlier in group B, but the difference was not significant. However, the length of hospital stay was 6.7 days in group B, which was significantly shorter than that in group A (7.3 days, P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: This study showed that length of postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the gum-chewing group. In future studies, we expect to elucidate the effect of gum chewing on the postoperative recovery more clearly.
Chewing Gum ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Gingiva* ; Humans ; Incheon ; Korea ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Mastication* ; Medical Records