The first edition of ‘A Standardized Pathology Report for Gastric Cancer’ was initiated by the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists and published 17 years ago. Since then, significant advances have been made in the pathologic diagnosis, molecular genetics, and management of gastric cancer (GC). To reflect those changes, a committee for publishing a second edition of the report was formed within the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists. This second edition consists of two parts: standard data elements and conditional data elements.The standard data elements contain the basic pathologic findings and items necessary to predict the prognosis of GC patients, and they are adequate for routine surgical pathology service. Other diagnostic and prognostic factors relevant to adjuvant therapy, including molecular biomarkers, are classified as conditional data elements to allow each pathologist to selectively choose items appropriate to the environment in their institution. We trust that the standardized pathology report will be helpful for GC diagnosis and facilitate large-scale multidisciplinary collaborative studies.

The first edition of ‘A Standardized Pathology Report for Gastric Cancer’ was initiated by the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists and published 17 years ago. Since then, significant advances have been made in the pathologic diagnosis, molecular genetics, and management of gastric cancer (GC). To reflect those changes, a committee for publishing a second edition of the report was formed within the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists. This second edition consists of two parts: standard data elements and conditional data elements. The standard data elements contain the basic pathologic findings and items necessary to predict the prognosis of GC patients, and they are adequate for routine surgical pathology service. Other diagnostic and prognostic factors relevant to adjuvant therapy, including molecular biomarkers, are classified as conditional data elements to allow each pathologist to selectively choose items appropriate to the environment in their institution. We trust that the standardized pathology report will be helpful for GC diagnosis and facilitate large-scale multidisciplinary collaborative studies.

Background/Aims: Because weight control is important in treatment of type 2 diabetes, it is essential to understand the associations between weight change and the risk of microvascular complications among patients with type 2 diabetes. We examined whether weight changes early after new-onset diabetes have an impact on the clinical outcomes of diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort database, 181,872 patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who were free of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) during 2007 to 2012 were followed to the end of 2016. Weight change was defined as the difference in body weight from the time of diabetes diagnosis to 2 years later. Results: We identified 180 cases of ESRD and 780 cases of PDR followed up for a median of 5.5 years from the index year at 2 years after diagnosis. Those with 5% to 10% weight gain showed a significantly higher hazard ratio (HR) for ESRD, compared with those with ≤ 5% weight change after adjusting for several confounding factors, including the baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR, 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14 to 2.70). Those with ≥ 10% weight loss showed the lowest HR for PDR (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.83), whereas those with ≥ 10% weight gain showed the highest HR for PDR (HR, 3.20; 95% CI, 2.51 to 4.08). Conclusions Weight gain after new-onset diabetes was associated with increased risk of ESRD and PDR whereas weight loss with decreased risk of PDR, but not ESRD.

Background/Aims: Because weight control is important in treatment of type 2 diabetes, it is essential to understand the associations between weight change and the risk of microvascular complications among patients with type 2 diabetes. We examined whether weight changes early after new-onset diabetes have an impact on the clinical outcomes of diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort database, 181,872 patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who were free of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) during 2007 to 2012 were followed to the end of 2016. Weight change was defined as the difference in body weight from the time of diabetes diagnosis to 2 years later. Results: We identified 180 cases of ESRD and 780 cases of PDR followed up for a median of 5.5 years from the index year at 2 years after diagnosis. Those with 5% to 10% weight gain showed a significantly higher hazard ratio (HR) for ESRD, compared with those with ≤ 5% weight change after adjusting for several confounding factors, including the baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR, 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14 to 2.70). Those with ≥ 10% weight loss showed the lowest HR for PDR (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.83), whereas those with ≥ 10% weight gain showed the highest HR for PDR (HR, 3.20; 95% CI, 2.51 to 4.08). Conclusions Weight gain after new-onset diabetes was associated with increased risk of ESRD and PDR whereas weight loss with decreased risk of PDR, but not ESRD.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a bedside nursing shift report protocol and evaluate the effect of the protocol in a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Methods: The bedside nursing handoff protocol with patient engagement was developed based on the literature review and the validation of an expert group. The effect of the protocol on clinical implication was tested in three medical-surgical units in a tertiary hospital. Outcomes were assessed by patient perception, nurse perception, and reporting time. Data collected from June to August in 2018 and analyzed with descriptive statistics and One-way ANOVA using SPSS version 25.0. Results: The bedside nursing shift report protocol with patient engagement consisted of two steps: nurse to nurse report and bedside report with patients. Nurse’s perception with patient engagement was significantly increased after applying protocol (F=17.85, p<.001). Patient’s perception was significantly improved in the areas of discharge plan (F=7.86, p<.001), health information privacy (F=4.46, p=.012) and identify attending nurse (F=3.19, p=.042). There were no differences in reporting time between the bedside nursing shift report and a traditional shift report (F=0.61, p=.054). Conclusion Patient perception was significantly increased, while nurse perception was not different after applying this protocol. For the change in the perception of nurses, education may be preceded to improve nurses' competence for the bedside shift report. Furthermore, the support in enough nurse staffing should be needed for encouraging the bedside shift report. The bedside shift report may enhance patient engagement. Therefore it may improve patient safety and health outcome in clinics.

PURPOSE: The diagnostic criteria of gastric intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN) are controversial across the world. We investigated how many discrepancies occur in the pathologic diagnosis of IEN and early gastric carcinoma in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) specimens, and evaluated the reasons of the discordance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 1,202 ESD specimens that were originally diagnosed as gastric IEN and early carcinoma at 12 institutions. RESULTS: The final consensus diagnosis of carcinoma were 756 cases, which were originally 692 carcinomas (91.5%), 43 high-grade dysplasias (5.7%), 20 low-grade dysplasias (2.6%), and 1 others (0.1%), respectively. High- and low-grade dysplasia were finally made in 63 and 342 cases, respectively. The diagnostic concordance with the consensus diagnosis was the highest for carcinoma (91.5%), followed by low-grade dysplasia (86.3%), others (63.4%) and high-grade dysplasia (50.8%). The general kappa value was 0.83, indicating excellent concordance. The kappa values of individual institutions ranged from 0.74 to 1 and correlated with the proportion of carcinoma cases. The cases revised to a final diagnosis of carcinoma exhibited both architectural abnormalities and cytologic atypia. The main differential points between low- and high-grade dysplasias were the glandular distribution and glandular shape. Additional features such as the glandular axis, surface maturation, nuclear stratification and nuclear polarity were also important. CONCLUSION: The overall concordance of the diagnosis of gastric IEN and early carcinoma in ESD specimens was excellent. It correlated with the proportion of carcinoma cases, demonstrating that the diagnostic criteria for carcinoma are more reproducible than those for dysplasia.
Consensus ; Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the performance of patient engagement nursing services perceived by nurses and necessity in Korea. METHODS: This study was a descriptive research. A total of 205 nurses participated in the study. The Smart Patient Engagement Assessment Checklist was developed by the investigators to assess patient engagement nursing services performance and necessity. The data were collected using online survey. Descriptive analysis and χ² analysis were performed using SPSS 25.0 program. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 36.6±8.5 years and the mean working experience was 12.92±9.23 years. Seventy eight percent of participants reported that patients and family participated in care as advisors through customer's suggestion or patient satisfaction assessment. The rate of patients' and family's engagement in care as advisors was significantly higher in tertiary hospitals (χ²=28.54, p<.001). About 89% of participants communicated with patients and family to make clinical decisions with a multidisciplinary approach. The rate of communication for multidisciplinary decision making was significantly higher in tertiary hospitals (χ²=6.30, p=.012). With regards to nurses' bedside patient handoff, 22.0% of participants reported that they were performing bedside patient handoff, and there was no significant difference between type of hospitals. About discharge planning, 72.2% of participants reported utilizing discharge checklist. CONCLUSION: Currently, patient engagement nursing services are applied partially in Korea. It seems that care protocols to be applied for patient engagement nursing services are insufficient. Therefore, patient engagement care protocols need to be developed to improve patient's health outcome and safety.
Checklist ; Decision Making ; Humans ; Korea ; Needs Assessment ; Nursing Services ; Nursing ; Patient Discharge ; Patient Handoff ; Patient Participation ; Patient Satisfaction ; Research Personnel ; Tertiary Care Centers

Fungi are a major cause of human infections with diverse clinical manifestations. The incidence of fungal infections has increased over time, particularly in patients who have risk factors such as neutropenia, immune suppression, an intravascular catheter, parenteral nutrition, a prosthetic device, and prior broad spectrum antibiotic therapy. Here, we present an unusual case of co-infection by 2 distinct fungi, Candida parapsilosis and Trichosporon asahii, isolated from a patient who did not have any known risk factors initially, except active pulmonary tuberculosis. Despite the negative conversion of sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) culture test after treatment, clinical symptoms were refractory to therapy. The patient developed symptoms suggesting septic shock, and 2 distinct colonies were isolated from a blood specimen, which were identified as C. parapsilosis and T. asahii by MALDI-TOF and rRNA sequencing. Fever and hypotension were relieved after anti-fungal agent injection, and pulmonary lesions identified by imaging also improved.
Candida ; Catheters ; Coinfection ; Fever ; Fungemia ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Neutropenia ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Risk Factors ; Shock, Septic ; Sputum ; Trichosporon ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease characterized by decreased bone strength, leading to an increased risk of fracture. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines osteoporosis as a bone mineral density (BMD) of 2.5 standard deviations below that of a young adults (T-score of -2.5 or lower). Severe osteoporosis is differentiated from osteoporosis by the presence of one or more fragility fractures in addition to this T-score. However, the current WHO definition may be insufficient to reflect the diverse spectrum of osteoporosis or severe osteoporosis, which can encompass various number and severity of prevalent fractures. To overcome these shortcomings of the WHO definition of osteoporosis, we propose a concept of 'advanced severe osteoporosis', which is defined by the presence of proximal femur fragility fracture or two or more fragility fractures in addition to BMD T-score of -2.5 or less. Based on the previous clinical trials and post-hoc analyses, we recommend selective estrogen receptor modulators, bisphosphonates, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) monoclonal antibody, and parathyroid hormone for the medical treatment of severe osteoporosis. In cases of advanced severe osteoporosis or osteoporosis that does not respond to previous anti-osteoporotic treatments, we also recommend parathyroid hormone, bisphosphonates, and RANKL monoclonal antibody. In conclusion, we need more precise assessment of osteoporosis and further stratification of the disease by number of prevalent fractures in addition to BMD. More aggressive managements should be provided for those with advanced severe osteoporosis.
Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Diphosphonates ; Femur ; Humans ; Osteoporosis* ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; World Health Organization ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Counting mitoses is subjective and time-consuming. The adjunctive diagnostic utility of a recently reported mitotic marker, phosphohistone H3 (PHH3), was investigated in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). METHODS: We reviewed 77 GISTs for several proliferative indices. These included the mitotic count per 50 high power fields (HPFs), the immunohistochemical Ki-67 labeling index and the immunohistochemical PHH3 mitotic index (MI). For comparison, Spearman's rank correlation and interclass correlation coefficient were used. RESULTS: Mitotic counts ranged from 0-138 (mean, 7.57+/-2.34) and the PHH3 MI ranged from 0-126 per 50 HPFs (mean, 9.61+/-2.27). We found a positive correlation between mitotic counts and PHH3 MI (r=0.810, p<.001). The inter-observer correlation coefficient for three participants was 0.975 for mitotic counts and 0.940 for the PHH3 MI. When using the PHH3 MI instead of mitotic counts in the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) stratification criteria, 10 cases were reclassified. In one patient with a mitotic count of 2 and a PHH3 MI of 6 per 50 HPFs, distant metastasis occurred. CONCLUSIONS: In GISTs, the PHH3 MI correlated adequately with mitotic counts and can be used as a useful adjunctive to count mitotic figures efficiently.
Arm ; Biomarkers ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Humans ; Mitosis ; Mitotic Index ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pathology