We aimed to evaluate the current nationwide trend, efficacy, safety, and quality of life (QoL) profiles of hormone treatment in real-world practice settings for prostate cancer (PCa) patients in Korea. A total of 292 men with any biopsy-proven PCa (TanyNanyMany) from 12 institutions in Korea were included in this multi-institutional, observational study of prospectively collected data. All luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists were allowed to be investigational drugs. Efficacy was defined as (1) the rate of castration (serum testosterone ≤50 ng dl^-1) at 4-week visit and (2) breakthrough (serum testosterone >50 ng dl^-1 after castration). Safety assessments included routine examinations for potential adverse events, laboratory tests, blood pressure, body weight, and bone mineral density (BMD, at baseline and at the last follow-up visit). QoL was assessed using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-26 (EPIC-26). The most common initial therapeutic regimen was LHRH agonist with anti-androgen (78.0%), and the most commonly used LHRH agonist for combination and monotherapy was leuprolide (64.0% for combination and 58.0% for monotherapy). The castration and breakthrough rates were 78.4% and 6.6%, respectively. The laboratory results related to dyslipidemia worsened after 4 weeks of hormone treatment. In addition, the mean BMD T-score was significantly lower at the last follow-up (mean: -1.950) compared to baseline (mean: -0.195). The mean total EPIC-26 score decreased from 84.8 (standard deviation [s.d.]: 12.2) to 78.3 (s.d.: 8.1), with significant deterioration only in the urinary domain (mean: 23.5 at baseline and 21.9 at the 4-week visit). These findings demonstrate the nationwide trend of current practice settings in hormone treatment for PCa in Korea.
Aged ; Androgen Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/therapeutic use* ; Cholesterol/blood* ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Leuprolide/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Quality of Life ; Receptors, LHRH/agonists* ; Republic of Korea ; Testosterone/blood* ; Treatment Outcome ; Triglycerides/blood*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In addition to the globally endorsed Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system, other algorithms or staging systems have been developed, including the Hong Kong Liver Cancer (HKLC) staging system. This study aimed to validate the HKLC staging system relative to the BCLC staging system for predicting survival for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in Korea. METHODS: From 2004 to 2013, 2,571 patients newly diagnosed with HCC were consecutively enrolled at three Korea University medical centers. RESULTS: Both staging systems differentiated survival well (p < 0.001). However, 1-year and 3-year survival were predicted better using the HKLC system than the BCLC system (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.869 vs 0.856 for 1 year, p=0.002; 0.841 vs 0.827 for 3 years, p=0.010). In hypothetical survival curves, the HKLC system exhibited better median overall survival than the BCLC system (33.1 months vs 19.2 months). In evaluations of prognosis according to either BCLC or HKLC treatment guidelines, risk of death was reduced in the group following only HKLC guidelines compared with the group following only BCLC guidelines (hazard ratio, 0.601; 95% confidence interval, 0.443 to 0.816; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although both staging systems predicted and discriminated HCC prognoses well, the HKLC system showed more encouraging survival benefits than the BCLC system.
Academic Medical Centers ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Hong Kong ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Neoplasms ; Liver ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several specific foods are known to precipitate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and GERD patients are usually advised to avoid such foods. However, foods consumed daily are quite variable according to regions, cultures, etc. This study was done to elucidate the food items which induce typical GERD symptoms in Korean patients. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-six Korean patients with weekly typical GERD symptoms were asked to mark all food items that induced typical GERD symptoms from a list containing 152 typical foods consumed daily in Korea. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy followed by 24-hour ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring. The definition of “GERD” was if either of the 2 studies revealed evidence of GERD, and “possible GERD” if both studies were negative. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-six cases (51 GERD and 75 possible GERD) were enrolled. In 19 (37.3%) of 51 GERD cases and in 17 (22.7%) of 75 possible GERD cases, foods inducing typical GERD symptoms were identified. In the GERD group (n = 19), frequent symptom-inducers were hot spicy stews, rice cakes, ramen noodles, fried foods, and topokki. In the possible GERD group (n = 17), frequent symptom-inducers were hot spicy stews, fried foods, doughnuts, breads, ramen noodles, coffee, pizza, topokki, rice cakes, champon noodles, and hotdogs. CONCLUSIONS: In one-third of GERD patients, foods inducing typical symptoms were identified. Hot spicy stews, rice cakes, ramen noodles, fried foods, and topokki were the foods frequently inducing typical symptoms in Korea. The list of foods frequently inducing typical GERD symptoms needs to be modified based on their own local experiences.
Bread ; Coffee ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Symptom Assessment

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Prothrombin induced by vitamin K deficiency or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) is a widely used diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the correlation between alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and serum PIVKA-II levels in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 2,528 CLD patients without HCC. Among these patients, 76 exhibited serum high PIVKA-II levels of >125 mAU/mL (group 1). We categorized 76 control patients matched by age, sex, and the presence of liver cirrhosis from the remaining patients who were negative for serum PIVKA-II (group 2). RESULTS: Group 1 revealed increased antibiotic usage (23.7% vs 2.6%, p<0.001) and incidence of ALD (60.5% vs 14.5%, p<0.001) as well as elevated aspartate aminotransferase (52.5 IU/L vs 30.5 IU/L, p=0.025) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (67.5 IU/L vs 36.5 IU/L, p=0.005) levels compared with group 2. Further, group 1 was significantly associated with a worse Child-Pugh class than group 2. In the multivariate analysis, ALD (odds ratio [OR], 7.151; p<0.001) and antibiotic usage (OR, 5.846; p<0.001) were significantly associated with positive PIVKA-II levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that ALD and antibiotics usage may be confounding factors when interpreting high serum PIVKA-II levels in patients without HCC. Therefore, serum PIVKA-II levels in patients with ALD or in patients administered antibiotics should be interpreted with caution.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Biomarkers/*blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/blood ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/blood ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/*blood ; Liver Neoplasms/blood ; Male ; Matched-Pair Analysis ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Protein Precursors/*blood ; Prothrombin/analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Distribution ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/blood

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Prothrombin induced by vitamin K deficiency or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) is a widely used diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the correlation between alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and serum PIVKA-II levels in chronic liver disease (CLD) patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 2,528 CLD patients without HCC. Among these patients, 76 exhibited serum high PIVKA-II levels of >125 mAU/mL (group 1). We categorized 76 control patients matched by age, sex, and the presence of liver cirrhosis from the remaining patients who were negative for serum PIVKA-II (group 2). RESULTS: Group 1 revealed increased antibiotic usage (23.7% vs 2.6%, p<0.001) and incidence of ALD (60.5% vs 14.5%, p<0.001) as well as elevated aspartate aminotransferase (52.5 IU/L vs 30.5 IU/L, p=0.025) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (67.5 IU/L vs 36.5 IU/L, p=0.005) levels compared with group 2. Further, group 1 was significantly associated with a worse Child-Pugh class than group 2. In the multivariate analysis, ALD (odds ratio [OR], 7.151; p<0.001) and antibiotic usage (OR, 5.846; p<0.001) were significantly associated with positive PIVKA-II levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that ALD and antibiotics usage may be confounding factors when interpreting high serum PIVKA-II levels in patients without HCC. Therefore, serum PIVKA-II levels in patients with ALD or in patients administered antibiotics should be interpreted with caution.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Biomarkers/*blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/blood ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/blood ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/*blood ; Liver Neoplasms/blood ; Male ; Matched-Pair Analysis ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Protein Precursors/*blood ; Prothrombin/analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Distribution ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/blood

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The use of self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) is an established palliative treatment for malignant stenosis in the gastrointestinal tract; therefore, its application to benign stenosis is expected to be beneficial because of the more gradual and sustained dilatation in the stenotic portion. We aimed in this prospective observational study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of temporary SEMS placement in benign pyloric stenosis. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with benign stenosis of the prepylorus, pylorus, and duodenal bulb were enrolled and underwent SEMS placement. We assessed symptom improvement, defined as an increase of at least 1 degree in the gastric-outlet-obstruction scoring system after stent insertion. RESULTS: No major complications were observed during the procedures. After stent placement, early symptom improvement was achieved in 18 of 22 patients (81.8%). During the follow-up period (mean 10.2 months), the stents remained in place successfully for 6 to 8 weeks in seven patients (31.8%). Among the 15 patients (62.5%) with stent migration, seven (46.6%) showed continued symptomatic improvement without recurrence of obstructive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the symptomatic improvement, temporary SEMS placement is premature as an effective therapeutic tool for benign pyloric stenosis unless a novel stent is developed to prevent migration.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Palliative Care ; Prospective Studies ; Pyloric Stenosis ; Pylorus ; Recurrence ; Stents

OBJECTIVE: Depending on genetic or environmental effects over adolescent development, typical behavioral responses come out in adolescence. Also, alteration of nitric oxide (NO) levels in the brain has been associated with modifications of stress related behavior. Present study was designed to investigate the possible influence of chronic stress from restraint on the generation of depression in adolescent mice, and also to evaluate whether NO has modulatory roles in the behavioral and biological reactions. METHODS: ICR mice exposed to stressful restraint, 2 h per day, was treated with NG-nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (10 mg/kg), a non-selective NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor. To evaluate depression-like behavior in the mice, forced swim test and open field test were performed after the last restraint. To investigate stress-induced changes in the expression level of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), free-floating immunohistochemistry was performed. RESULTS: The results showed that stressed group has longer immobility time and less crossing number in forced swimming and open field test, and that these stress responses were significantly prevented by L-NAME. Furthermore, decreased GDNF expression in the hippocampus by stress was prevented to that of controls within the L-NAME treated group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that stress and NO signaling could be involved in generation of depression in adolescence. It also suggested that GDNF might contribute to prevent stress-related behaviors.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Development ; Animals ; Arginine ; Brain ; Depression ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Swimming

PURPOSE: Leptin has been considered a link between metabolic state and reproductive activity. Defective reproductive function can occur in leptin-deficient and leptin-excessive conditions. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of centrally injected leptin on the hypothalamic KiSS-1 system in relation to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) action in the initial stage of puberty. METHODS: Leptin (1 microg) was injected directly into the ventricle of pubertal female mice. The resultant gene expressions of hypothalamic GnRH and KiSS-1 and pituitary LH, 2 and 4 hours after injection, were compared with those of saline-injected control mice. The changes in the gene expressions after blocking the GnRH action were also analyzed. RESULTS: The basal expression levels of KiSS-1, GnRH, and LH were significantly higher in the pubertal mice than in the prepubertal mice. The 1-microg leptin dose significantly decreased the mRNA expression levels of KiSS-1, GnRH, and LH in the pubertal mice. A GnRH antagonist significantly increased the KiSS-1 and GnRH mRNA expression levels, and the additional leptin injection decreased the gene expression levels compared with those in the control group. CONCLUSION: The excess leptin might have suppressed the central reproductive axis in the pubertal mice by inhibiting the KiSS-1 expression, and this mechanism is independent of the GnRH-LH-estradiol feedback loop.
Aluminum Hydroxide ; Animals ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Carbonates ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Leptin ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Mice ; Puberty ; RNA, Messenger

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been widely performed. However, procedure related-complications and the risk of tumor recurrence are limitations. We analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics of patients who underwent curative additional gastrectomy (gastrectomy) after ESD. METHODS: The clinical characteristics of cases underwent gastrectomy after ESD were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Between January 2002 and August 2010, 1,512 cases underwent ESD for early gastric cancer (n=511) or adenoma (n=1,001). Thirty-two cases (2.1%) underwent gastrectomy after ESD. Thirty cases (2.0%) were EGC and 2 cases (0.1%) were adenoma. Extended indication, larger tumor size and piecemeal resection were risk factors for gastrectomy after ESD. According to the causes of gastrectomy, 13 cases underwent gastrectomy due to complications (40.6%; bleeding in 9, perforation in 4), and 19 cases based on pathological results (incomplete resection in 13, lymphatic invasion in 6). In cases with incomplete resection, the rate of residual tumor and lymph node metastasis after gastrectomy was 69.2% (75% lateral margin, 60% deep and 75% both) and 7.7%, respectively. Three (50%) of the 6 cases with lymphatic invasion had lymph node metatstasis. CONCLUSIONS: The causes of gastrectomy after ESD were the procedure-related complications, the incomplete resection and lymphatic invasion. For complete and curative ESD, endoscopists should try to minimize complications and determine the depth of invasion accurately before ESD.
Adenoma/*pathology/surgery ; Aged ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Gastric Mucosa/pathology/surgery ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms/*pathology/surgery