Objective: To evaluate the prognostic impact of radiologic and pathologic features in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and to identify the factors associated with the development of progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) and survival. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 75 patients diagnosed with ILD other than IPF who underwent surgical lung biopsy between January 2004 and December 2020. Three chest radiologists independently reviewed the CT features and extent of fibrosis on preoperative and follow-up CT scans. Two pathologists reviewed the histopathological features, including the presence of interstitial pneumonia. The time to PPF and overall survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The associations of CT and pathological features with PPF and all-cause mortality were examined using standard Cox regression and time-dependent Cox models, respectively. Results: A total of 75 non-IPF ILD patients (mean age ± standard deviations 56.4 ± 13.2 years; range, 40–88 years) were enrolled. The median follow-up duration was 75.3 months (range, 7.8–189.8 months). Traction bronchiectasis on CT (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 6.40; P = 0.003) and body mass index (adjusted HR per 1-kg/m2 increase, 0.82; P = 0.002) were found to be significantly associated with PPF in multivariable analysis. Radiological progression (adjusted HR, 18.44;P < 0.001), symptomatic progression (adjusted HR, 4.19; P = 0.011), and age (adjusted HR for 1-year increase, 1.12; P < 0.001) were significantly associated with death. Conclusion Traction bronchiectasis on CT was a significant predictor of PPF, while radiologic and symptomatic progression and older age were associated with poorer survival in patients with ILD other than IPF. These findings indicate that careful radiological evaluation and symptom monitoring may help to predict disease progression and outcomes in patients with nonIPF ILD.

Purpose: To investigate the factors contributing to inferior vena cava (IVC) filter removal failure by comparing successful and failed cases using advanced techniques. Materials and Methods: IVC filter removal was attempted in 331 patients. Of the 29 patients in whom IVC filter removal failed using a simple technique, the IVC filter was successfully removed using an advanced technique in 18 patients and failure was noted in 11 patients.Age, sex, filter type, indwelling period, IVC diameter, tilting angle between the IVC and the filter, IVC wall penetration of the filter strut, and whether the filter was embedded or endothelialized within the IVC wall were compared in each group. Results: Overall, there were 13 men (72%) in the success group and 3 men (27%) in the failure group; more women were present in the failure group (p = 0.027). Unlike in the success group, hook embedment (9/11, 82%) or IVC filter endothelialization (2/11, 18%) within the wall of the IVC were observed in the failure group using two-dimensional venography. Conclusion When using advanced techniques for IVC filter removal, females are at a higher risk of failure compared to males. Hook embedment and IVC filter endothelialization within the IVC wall, rather than penetration of the IVC wall, are crucial factors in failure of IVC filter removal using advanced techniques.

Purpose: To investigate the factors contributing to inferior vena cava (IVC) filter removal failure by comparing successful and failed cases using advanced techniques. Materials and Methods: IVC filter removal was attempted in 331 patients. Of the 29 patients in whom IVC filter removal failed using a simple technique, the IVC filter was successfully removed using an advanced technique in 18 patients and failure was noted in 11 patients.Age, sex, filter type, indwelling period, IVC diameter, tilting angle between the IVC and the filter, IVC wall penetration of the filter strut, and whether the filter was embedded or endothelialized within the IVC wall were compared in each group. Results: Overall, there were 13 men (72%) in the success group and 3 men (27%) in the failure group; more women were present in the failure group (p = 0.027). Unlike in the success group, hook embedment (9/11, 82%) or IVC filter endothelialization (2/11, 18%) within the wall of the IVC were observed in the failure group using two-dimensional venography. Conclusion When using advanced techniques for IVC filter removal, females are at a higher risk of failure compared to males. Hook embedment and IVC filter endothelialization within the IVC wall, rather than penetration of the IVC wall, are crucial factors in failure of IVC filter removal using advanced techniques.

Purpose: To investigate the factors contributing to inferior vena cava (IVC) filter removal failure by comparing successful and failed cases using advanced techniques. Materials and Methods: IVC filter removal was attempted in 331 patients. Of the 29 patients in whom IVC filter removal failed using a simple technique, the IVC filter was successfully removed using an advanced technique in 18 patients and failure was noted in 11 patients.Age, sex, filter type, indwelling period, IVC diameter, tilting angle between the IVC and the filter, IVC wall penetration of the filter strut, and whether the filter was embedded or endothelialized within the IVC wall were compared in each group. Results: Overall, there were 13 men (72%) in the success group and 3 men (27%) in the failure group; more women were present in the failure group (p = 0.027). Unlike in the success group, hook embedment (9/11, 82%) or IVC filter endothelialization (2/11, 18%) within the wall of the IVC were observed in the failure group using two-dimensional venography. Conclusion When using advanced techniques for IVC filter removal, females are at a higher risk of failure compared to males. Hook embedment and IVC filter endothelialization within the IVC wall, rather than penetration of the IVC wall, are crucial factors in failure of IVC filter removal using advanced techniques.

Eosinophilia occurs commonly in many diseases including allergic diseases and helminthic infections. Toxocariasis has been suggested as one cause of eosinophilia. The present study was undertaken to examine the prevalence of toxocariasis in patients with eosinophilia and to identify the risk factors for toxocariasis. This prospective cohort study recruited a total of 81 patients with eosinophilia (34 males and 47 females) who visited the outpatient clinic at Seoul National University Hospital from January 2017 to February 2018 and agreed to participate in this study. The prevalence of toxocariasis was examined by T. canis-specific ELISA, and the various risk factors for toxocariasis were evaluated by a questionnaire survey. Among 81 patients with eosinophilia, 18 were positive for anti-T. canis antibodies (22.2%); 88.9% were male (16/18) and 11.1% were female (2/18). Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that males (OR 21.876, 95% CI: 1.667-287.144) with a history of consuming the raw meat or livers of animals (OR 5.899, 95% CI: 1.004-34.669) and a heavy alcohol-drinking habit (OR 8.767, 95% CI: 1.018-75.497) were at higher risk of toxocariasis in patients with eosinophilia. Toxocariasis should be considered a potential cause of eosinophilia when the patient has a history of eating the raw meat or livers of animals in Korea. A single course of albendazole is recommended to reduce the migration of Toxocara larvae in serologically positive cases with eosinophilia.

PURPOSE: The optimal cytotoxic regimens have not been established for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who develop disease progression on first-line epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a multi-center randomized phase II trial to compare the clinical outcomes between pemetrexed plus cisplatin combination therapy followed by maintenance pemetrexed (PC) and pemetrexed monotherapy (P) after failure of first-line EGFR-TKI. The primary objective was progression-free survival (PFS), and secondary objectives included overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and safety and toxicity profiles. RESULTS: A total of 96 patientswere randomized, and 91 patientswere treated at 14 centers in Korea. The ORR was 34.8% (16/46) for the PC arm and 17.8% (8/45) for the P arm (p=0.066). With 23.4 months of follow-up, the median PFS was 5.4 months in the PC arm and 6.4 months in the P arm (p=0.114). The median OS was 17.9 months and 15.7 months in PC and P arms, respectively (p=0.787). Adverse events ≥ grade 3 were reported in 12 patients (26.1%) in the PC arm and nine patients (20.0%) in the P arm (p=0.491). The overall time trends of HRQOL were not significantly different between the two arms. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of pemetrexed therapy in NSCLC patients with disease progression after firstline EGFR-TKI might not be improved by adding cisplatin.
Arm ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Cisplatin ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung ; Pemetrexed ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Quality of Life ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Tyrosine

OBJECTIVE: The history of gestational diabetes (GDM) is a high risk for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The purpose of this study is to investigate the genetic association of LEP and LEPR gene polymorphisms and the development of T2DM in Korean women of history of GDM. METHODS: Women diagnosed as GDM during pregnancy from January 1992 to December 2002 were recruited. Those women with a T2DM at the time of study were classified as T2DM positive group, and without T2DM, as T2DM negative group. 2 genes (LEP and LEPR genes) and 8 SNPs (LEP-632G>A, +4950G>A, +4998A>C, and LEPR-141013T>C, -186A>G, +5193G>A, +7187A>C, +27265A>G) were selected. The TaqMan assay for genotyping and the statistical analysis for phenotypic and genetic factors between 2 groups were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 54 women, T2DM positive (n=20) and T2DM negative (n=34) were enrolled. At the time of diagnosis of GDM, HbA1c, 50 g and 100 g oral glucose tolerance test, and insulin level were significantly associated between T2DM positive and negative groups (P<.05). In analysis of genetic risk to T2DM, the significant association related with any SNPs was not shown between T2DM positive and negative groups. CONCLUSION: In Korean women having past history of GDM, there was no relationship between 2 genes and the development to T2DM. To clarify a effect of candidate genes related with development of T2DM, there will need more samples and genes.
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetes, Gestational ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Insulin ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Pregnancy