Objective: Kummell's disease (KD) is a form of delayed vertebral compression fracture. However, its incidence and predictors remain unclear. We investigated the incidence rate and predictors of KD in patients with benign vertebral compression fractures. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 437 consecutive patients with benign vertebral compression fractures admitted to XXX between 2015 and 2018. The inclusion criterion was patients with newly diagnosed KD at ≥20 years of age. The control subjects had acute benign vertebral compression fractures. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to evaluate the predictors of KD. Results: In total, 39 patients (8.9%) were newly diagnosed with KD, with an average age of 77.3 years. In older patients (≥70 years), the incidence was 12.8%. The incidence rate was highest in patients in their 70s. Most cases of KD (69.2%) occurred in the thoracolumbar region. Multivariate regression analysis showed that age ≥70 years (odds ratio [OR], 3.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–9.97; p=0.041) and a history of ischemic stroke (OR, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.26–6.74; p=0.012) were independently associated with KD. Conclusion KD appears to be relatively common, especially in older people (≥70 years). Older age and a history of ischemic stroke may be independent predictors of KD. This study also indicated that ischemic factors may play a more important role than mechanical factors in the development of KD from vertebral compression fractures.

Plexiform neurofibroma (PN) is an uncommon benign tumor, usually associated with neurofibromatosis type 1. As most PNs involve the craniomaxillofacial region, PN of the colon is very rare. Here we present a case of PN involving the sigmoid colon. A 43-year-old male patient presented to the outpatient clinic for the evaluation of an incidentally discovered sigmoid colon mass. A colonoscopic biopsy was performed for the mass, and the result revealed neuronal proliferation. The patient visited the outpatient clinic a year later with symptoms of abdominal pain and stool caliber change. Biopsy was repeated for the sigmoid colon mass, and the results showed mucosal Schwann cell proliferation and S-100 immunostaining positivity. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed for further evaluation, and neurofibroma or schwannoma was suspected based on the imaging studies. For an accurate diagnosis, the patient underwent surgery to remove the sigmoid colon mass. The final diagnosis of the mass was confirmed as PN. We hereby report a rare case of PN involving the sigmoid colon that could not be diagnosed before surgery.

Purpose: To determine the safety and feasibility of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) with modified delta-shaped anastomosis, we compared the short-term outcomes of TLDG to those of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with Billroth I anastomosis. Methods: We analyzed the characteristics of 85 patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with Billroth I anastomosis between January 2013 and December 2018. After propensity score matching, each group had 35 patients. Results: Of these 85 patients, 44 underwent TLDG and 41 underwent LADG. Propensity score matching was performed with three covariates (age, underlying disease, and hypertension), and 35 patients from each group were matched 1:1. After matching, the TLDG group was older than the LADG group (64.5 ± 10.6 years vs. 56.3 ± 11.2 years, p = 0.003) and had more patients with hypertension (57.1% vs. 22.9%,p = 0.003).Tumors were larger in the TLDG group than in the LADG group (23.4 ± 16.2 mm vs. 16.0 ± 7.9 mm, p = 0.018). A greater proportion of patients had fever in the TLDG group than the LADG group (42.9% vs.20.0%, p = 0.039), and C-reactive protein from postoperative days 3 to 6 was greater in the TLDG group (11.4 ± 5.7 mg/dL vs. 7.0 ± 5.0 mg/dL, p = 0.001). Conclusion Although our data represent only our early experience performing TLDG with modified deltashaped anastomosis, this procedure is relatively safe and feasible. Nevertheless, compared to LADG, which is the conventional method, the operative time for TLDG was longer. Surgeons must also watch out for anastomotic complications

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of age at diagnosis, and pretreatment hematologic markers, including lymphocyte percentage and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) treated with definitive radiotherapy (RT). METHODS: A total of 392 patients with LACC (stage IIb to IVa) treated with cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy or RT alone between 2001 and 2012 were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical data and pretreatment complete blood counts were extracted from electronic medical records of the patients, and analyzed. Treatment outcomes, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. RESULTS: Low lymphocyte percentage and a high NLR were associated with younger age, advanced stage, larger tumor size, lymph nodes metastasis, and treatment failure. The cut-off value for lymphocyte percentage and NLR was determined using a receiver operating characteristic curve. In univariate analysis, low lymphocyte percentage (≤24%) was associated with poor PFS and OS, while high NLR ( > 2.8) was significantly associated only with PFS. In multivariate analysis, both lymphocyte percentage (hazard ratio [HR], 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40–0.85; P=0.005) and NLR (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.07–2.25; P=0.022) had independent prognostic value for PFS. Compared to younger patients (age ≤50 years), older patients (age > 60 years) had a lower risk of death. CONCLUSION: Although the lymphocyte percentage did not remain significant in multivariate analysis for OS, it was predictive of PFS and OS. Thus, lymphocyte percentage is a simple hematologic parameter with a significant prognostic value in patients with LACC treated with definitive RT.
Aging ; Blood Cell Count ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Diagnosis* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Electronic Health Records ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Treatment Failure ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) has been considered a terminal condition and cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIEPC) is regarded as an alternative therapeutic option. This study aimed to evaluate the 30-day clinical outcomes of CRS/HIPEC and the feasibility of the surgery by investigating the morbidity and mortality in Inje University Hospital.METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from 19 patients with PC who underwent CRS/HIPEC at Inje University Hospital in 2018. We evaluated pre-, intra-operative parameters and postoperative clinical outcomes and early complications.RESULTS: The mean operating time was 506.95 minutes and the mean blood loss was 837.11 mL. Six cases (31.58%) had morbidity of grade III or above. A longer operating time (≥560 minutes, P=0.038) and large blood loss (≥700 mL, P=0.060) were positively correlated with grade III or worse postoperative complications.CONCLUSION: Our early experience with CRS/HIPEC resulted in a 31.58% morbidity rate of grade III and above, with risk factors being longer operating time and greater intraoperative blood loss. As the surgical team's skills improve, a shorter operating time with less intraoperative blood loss could result in better short-term outcomes of CRS/HIPEC.
Carcinoma ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Korea ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: Emerging evidence indicates that runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) is an important tumor suppressor gene in several cancer types, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the clinical significance of RUNX3 inactivation in CRC remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between clinicopathologic factors and RUNX3 hypermethylation/expression in CRC. METHODS: Sixty-two CRC patients who were treated at the Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine were recruited in this study. The hypermethylation of CpG islands in the RUNX3 promoter and the expression of RUNX3 mRNA were identified by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcriptase-PCR, respectively. The expression of RUNX3 was determined by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Of the 62 CRC tissue samples, 20 (32.3%) presented hypermethylated RUNX3 promoters. Aberrant RUNX3 hypermethylation was found to be associated with vascular (P = 0.006) and lymphatic (P = 0.002) invasion. Hypermethylation of RUNX3 was associated with poor survival outcomes (P = 0.038). However, expression of RUNX3 was not a prognostic factor (P = 0.363). CONCLUSION: Hypermethylation of RUNX3 may be a predictor of a poor prognosis in CRC.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit ; CpG Islands ; Epigenomics ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Methylation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; Transcription Factor 3

Correction of funding statement in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS section.

PURPOSE: Animal models show a strong relationship between lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis. However, the clinical significance of lymphangiogenesis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the association between c-Met and lymphangiogenic factors and to elucidate the prognostic significance of c-Met in patients with CRC. METHODS: A total of 379 tissue samples were obtained from surgically resected specimens from patients with CRC at Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital between January 2002 and December 2010. The expressions of c-Met, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C, VEGF-D, VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-3, and podoplanin were examined using immunohistochemistry. The expression of c-Met and clinical factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 379 tissues, 301 (79.4%) had c-Met expression. High expression of c-Met in tumor cells was significantly associated with high expression of VEGF-C (P < 0.001) and VEGFR-3 (P = 0.001). However, no statistically significant association with podoplanin (P = 0.587) or VEGF-D (P = 0.096) was found. Of the 103 evaluable patients, expression of c-Met in tumor cells was significantly associated with advanced clinical stage (P = 0.020), positive lymph node status (P = 0.038), and high expression of VEGF-C (P = 0.020). However, no statistically significant association with podoplanin (P = 0.518), VEGFR-3 (P = 0.085), VEGF-D (P = 0.203), or overall survival (P = 0.360) was found. CONCLUSION: Our results provide indirect evidence for an association and possible regulatory link of c-Met with the lymphangiogenic markers, but c-Met expression in patients with CRC is not a prognostic indicator for overall survival.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphangiogenesis ; Models, Animal ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3

Cholangiocarcinoma is the most common biliary malignancy and the second most common hepatic malignancy following hepatocellular carcinoma. It can be classified anatomically as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), perihilar CCA, or distal CCA. The treatment of choice for iCCA is surgical resection, but only those with potentially resectable tumors can undergo surgery. The standard regimen for advanced stage iCCA is gemcitabine and cisplatin. We encountered two unusual cases of iCCA patients who were initially diagnosed as unresectable cases and underwent systemic chemotherapy, which showed great response and therefore enabled radical operation. The patients show that even though iCCA is a challenging disease, patients with good response to chemotherapy may have a chance to undergo radical surgery.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: Acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) is generally considered a condition that should be managed surgically. However, some patients initially receive conservative treatment, a subset of whom require surgical intervention later. This study aimed to evaluate the predictors of delayed surgical intervention in ASDH patients who are initially managed conservatively. METHODS: From January 2007 to December 2015, 842 patients diagnosed with ASDH were treated at our institution. Among them, 158 patients with convexity ASDH were initially treated conservatively. Patients were divided into a delayed surgery group and a conservative group. Demographic characteristics, past medication and medical histories, and radiological and laboratory data were collected by retrospective chart review. Independent risk factors were identified with univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (17.7%) underwent delayed surgical intervention. Their mean age was 69.0 years, and 82.1% were male. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease prevalence and use of anti-platelet agents did not significantly differ from the conservative group. However, age (p=0.024), previous cerebral infarction history (p=0.026), increased maximal hematoma thickness (p<0.001), midline shifting (p=0.001) and accompanying subarachnoid hemorrhage (p=0.022) on initial brain computed tomography (CT) scan, low hemoglobin level (p<0.001), high leukocyte count (p=0.004), and low glucose level (p=0.002) were significantly associated with delayed surgical intervention. In multivariate analysis, increased maximal hematoma thickness (odds ratio [OR]=1.279, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.075–1.521; p=0.006), low hemoglobin level (OR=0.673, 95% CI 0.467–0.970; p=0.034), and high leukocyte count (OR=1.142, 95% CI 1.024–1.272; p=0.017) were independent risk factors for delayed surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: Due to the high likelihood of delayed surgical intervention among minimal ASDH patients with a thicker hematoma on initial brain CT, lower hemoglobin level, and higher leukocyte count, these patients should receive more careful observation.
Brain ; Cerebral Infarction ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Glucose ; Heart Diseases ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Hematoma, Subdural, Acute ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage