PURPOSE: Little is known about the clinical value of peripheral blood immune profiling. Here, we aimed to identify colorectal cancer (CRC)-related peripheral blood immune cells and develop liquid biopsy-based immune profiling models for CRC diagnosis. METHODS: Peripheral blood from 131 preoperative patients with CRC and 174 healthy controls was analyzed by flow cytometry and automated hematology. CRC-related immune factors were identified by comparing the mean values of immune cell percentages and counts. Subsequently, CRC diagnostic algorithms were constructed using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in percentages and counts of white blood cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, regulatory T cells, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) of patients and controls. The neutrophil/lymphocyte and Th1/Th2 ratios were also significantly different. Likewise, the percentages and counts of peripheral blood programed death 1, cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4, B-and T-lymphocyte attenuator, and lymphocyte activation gene-3 were higher in patients with CRC. The binary logistic regression model included 12 variables, age, CD3+%, NK%, CD4+CD279+%, CD4+CD25+%, CD4+CD152+%, CD3+CD366+%, CD3+CD272+%, CD3+CD223+%, CD158b−CD314+CD3−CD56+%, Th2%, and MDSCs cells/µL, for the prediction of cancer. Results of retrospective and prospective evaluation of the area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.980 and 0.940, 91.53% and 85.80%, and 93.50% and 86.20%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Peripheral blood immune profiling may be valuable in evaluating the immunity of CRC patients. Our liquid biopsy-based immune diagnostic method and its algorithms may serve as a novel tool for CRC diagnosis. Future largescale studies are needed for better characterization of its diagnostic value and potential for clinical application.
Blood Cells ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; CTLA-4 Antigen ; Diagnosis ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematology ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; Leukocytes ; Logistic Models ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes ; Methods ; Neutrophils ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

Bronchial asthma can be triggered by microbial agents in the oropharynx. This study was designed to identify the differences in microbiota of oropharynx of bronchial asthmatic patients in contrast to normal controls. In order to resolve the qualitative and quantitative diversity of the 16S rRNA gene present in the oropharynx microbiota of 4 patients and 4 controls, we compared microbial communities using Sanger sequencing and 376 sequences of 16S rRNA gene were analyzed. Of the total microbial diversity detected in the oropharynx in asthmatic patients 45.6% comprised members of the Firmicutes. In contrast, Proteobacteria (44.0%) dominated the oropharyngeal microbiota in the normal control group. Members of the Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, Actinobacteria, TM7, Cyanobacteria and unclassified bacteria were present in both groups. In conclusion, the difference in the microbiota of the oropharynx between patients and normal individuals could trigger symptomatic attacks in bronchial asthma.
Actinobacteria ; Asthma* ; Bacteria ; Bacteroidetes ; Cyanobacteria ; Fusobacteria ; Genes, rRNA ; Humans ; Metagenome ; Microbiota* ; Oropharynx ; Proteobacteria

No abstract available.
Chest Pain ; Echocardiography ; Esophageal Achalasia ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Hypertrophy ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal

PURPOSE: A retrorectal developmental cyst (tailgut cyst, epidermoid cyst, dermoid cyst, teratoma, and duplication) is very rare disease, and the symptoms are not characteristic so that sometimes this disease is still misdiagnosed as a supralevator abscess or a complex anal fistula. We would like to present a clinical approach to this disease. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the charts of 15 patients who were treated for retrorectal cysts from January 2001 to November 2009. RESULTS: All 15 patients were female. The average age was 41 years (range, 21 to 60 years). Fourteen patients (93.3%) were symptomatic, and the most common symptom was anal pain or discomfort. Nine patients (60%) had more than one previous operation (range, 1 to 9 times) for a supralevator abscess, an anal fistula, etc. In 12 patients (80%), the diagnosis could be made by using the medical history and physical examination. Thirteen cysts (80%) were excised completely through the posterior approach. The average diameter of the cysts was 4.8 cm (range, 2 to 10 cm). Pathologic diagnoses were 8 tailgut cysts (53.3%), 5 epidermoid cysts (33.3%) and 2 dermoid cysts (13.3%). The average follow-up period was 18.3 months (range, 1 to 64 months). CONCLUSION: In our experience, high suspicion and physical examination are the most important diagnostic methods. If a female patient has a history of multiple perianal operations, a retrorectal bulging soft mass, a posterior anal dimple, and no conventional creamy foul odorous pus in drainage, the possibility of a retrorectal developmental cyst must be considered.
Abscess ; Adult ; Dermoid Cyst ; Drainage ; Epidermal Cyst ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Odors ; Physical Examination ; Rare Diseases ; Rectal Fistula ; Retrospective Studies ; Suppuration ; Teratoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The reported frequency of stress-induced cardiomyopathy (SCMP, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy) is increasing; however, there are no data regarding predictors of in-hospital mortality and the recovery of left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with SCMP. Therefore, in this study, we sought to identify clinical predictors of in-hospital mortality and of the recovery of LV dysfunction in Korean patients with SCMP. METHODS: From November 2004 to November 2010, 155 patients who fulfilled the clinical diagnostic criteria of the Mayo clinic for SCMP were enrolled retrospectively from eight medical centers in Korea. We checked in-hospital deaths and compared the LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and wall-motion score index (WMSI) upon enrollment for each patient with that after 1 week using echocardiograms. A total of 55 continuous variables and 52 nominal variables were analyzed to find variables associated with in-hospital mortality and the recovery of LV dysfunction. All significant variables were entered into a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 64 +/- 15 years; 118 (76.1%) patients were female. The in-hospital mortality rate was 5.2% (n = 8). An elevated initial platelet count was identified as a predictor of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [95% CI]: 0.99 [0.99-1.00]). There were no predictors of the recovery of LVEF. Predictors of the recovery of WMSI were an absence of arrhythmic events (odds ratio [95% CI]: 22.89 [1.98-265.34]) and an elevated initial LV end-systolic diameter (odds ratio [95% CI]: 0.86 [0.74-1.00]). CONCLUSIONS: An initial absence of arrhythmic events and elevated LV end-diastolic pressure in patients with SCMP may be predictors of the timely recovery of LV dysfunction.
Cardiomyopathies ; Female ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Platelet Count ; Retrospective Studies ; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

OBJECTIVE: Although endoscopic procedures for lumbar disc diseases have improved greatly, the postoperative outcomes for high grade inferior migrated discs are not satisfactory. Because of anatomic limitations, a rigid endoscope cannot reach all lesions effectively. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of endoscopic transforaminal suprapedicular approach to high grade inferior-migrated lumbar disc herniations. METHODS: Between May 2006 and March 2008, a suprapedicular approach was performed in 53 patients with high grade inferior-migrated lumbar disc herniations using a rigid endoscope and a semi-rigid flexible curved probe. One-to-four hours after surgery, the presence of remnant discs was checked with MRI. The outcomes were evaluated with the visual analogue scale (VAS) score and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) one week after surgery. RESULTS: The L2-3 level was involved in 2 patients and the L3-4 level was involved in 14 patients, while the L4-5 level was involved in 39 patients. There were single piece-type in 34 cases and a multiple piece-type in 19 cases. Satisfactory results were obtained in all cases. The mean preoperative VAS for leg pain was 9.32+/-0.43 points (range, 7-10 points), whereas the mean ODI was 79.82+/-4.53 points (range, 68-92 points). At the last follow-up examination, the mean postoperative VAS for leg pain was 1.78+/-0.71 points and the mean postoperative ODI improved to 15.27+/-3.82 points. CONCLUSION: A high grade inferior migrated lumbar disc is difficult to remove sufficiently by posterolateral endoscopic lumbar dscectomy using a rigid endoscope. However, a satisfactory result can be obtained by applying a transforaminal suprapedicular approach with a flexible semi-rigid curved probe.
Endoscopes ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leg

We present a case of an acute psoas muscle hematoma following percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy. A 60-year-old female who presented with far lateral lumbar disc herniation underwent endoscopic discectomy on the right side at the L4-5 level. On the second postoperative day, the patient complained of severe right flank and leg pain and her blood pressure decreased. A computed tomography scan showed a large acute psoas muscle hematoma at right L4-5 level. The patient was transfused with packed red blood cells and placed at absolute bed rest. After observing the patient in intensive care, the severe flank and leg pain subsided, but the mild back pain persisted. Although percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy is an effective minimally invasive surgical technique for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, this case highlights the inherent risks of acute lumbar segmental vessel injury.
Back Pain ; Bed Rest ; Blood Pressure ; Diskectomy ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Psoas Muscles

Melanoma is a malignant neoplasm of melanocytes most frequently arising from the skin, but primary melanoma can also arise from the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal melanomas are most commonly metastases from a cutaneous melanoma. Primary melanoma of the stomach is rare and carries a poor prognosis. Reported here is the case of a 75-year-old man with a primary gastric melanoma who presented with a melena, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Most cases of melanoma are treated by excision of the primary tumor. Patients with melanoma have been treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. None of these modalities has been demonstrated to prolong the survival rate. To improve long-term disease-free survival, early diagnosis and surgical intervention are very important.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Cardia* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Early Diagnosis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma* ; Melena ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Skin ; Stomach* ; Survival Rate ; Weight Loss

A benign cecal ulcer is an uncommon lesion. The etiology remains unknown, and there are no pathognomonic lesions or symptoms. Lower gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage secondary to benign cecal ulcer is the most common complication. Herein, the case of a 24-year-old man with a benign cecal ulcer presenting with a massive lower gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage requiring transfusion until a exploratory laparotomy and right hemicolectomy, is reported with a review of the literature. Surgical intervention is warranted if malignancy is suspected or if the patient has signs of uncontrollable hemorrhage, perforation, or peritonitis.
Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Peritonitis ; Ulcer* ; Young Adult