Background: Visceral pleural invasion (VPI) is a poor prognostic factor that contributes to the upstaging of early lung cancers. However, the preoperative assessment of VPI presents challenges. This study was conducted to examine intraoperative pleural carcinoembryonic antigen (pCEA) level and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) as predictive markers of VPI in patients with clinical T1N0M0 lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of the medical records of 613 patients who underwent intraoperative pCEA sampling and lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer. Of these, 390 individuals with clinical stage I adenocarcinoma and tumors ≤30 mm were included. Based on computed tomography findings, these patients were divided into pleural contact (n=186) and non-pleural contact (n=204) groups. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to analyze the association between pCEA and SUVmax in relation to VPI. Additionally, logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors for VPI in each group. Results: ROC curve analysis revealed that pCEA level greater than 2.565 ng/mL (area under the curve [AUC]=0.751) and SUVmax above 4.25 (AUC=0.801) were highly predictive of VPI in patients exhibiting pleural contact. Based on multivariable analysis, pCEA (odds ratio [OR], 3.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14–7.87; p=0.026) and SUVmax (OR, 5.25; 95% CI, 1.90–14.50; p=0.001) were significant risk factors for VPI in the pleural contact group. Conclusion In patients with clinical stage I lung adenocarcinoma exhibiting pleural contact, pCEA and SUVmax are potential predictive indicators of VPI. These markers may be helpful in planning for lung cancer surgery.

Background: Unexpected conversion to thoracotomy during planned video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) can lead to poor outcomes and comparatively high morbidity. This study was conducted to assess preoperative risk factors associated with unexpected thoracotomy conversion and to develop a risk scoring model for preoperative use, aimed at identifying patients with an elevated risk of conversion. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 1,506 patients who underwent surgical resection for non-small cell lung cancer. To evaluate the risk factors, univariate analysis and logistic regression were performed. A risk scoring model was established to predict unexpected thoracotomy conversion during VATS of the lung, based on preoperative factors. To validate the model, an additional cohort of 878 patients was analyzed. Results: Among the potentially significant clinical variables, male sex, previous ipsilateral lung surgery, preoperative detection of calcified lymph nodes, and clinical T stage were identified as independent risk factors for unplanned conversion to thoracotomy. A 6-point risk scoring model was developed to predict conversion based on the assessed risk, with patients categorized into 4 groups. The results indicated an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.747, with a sensitivity of 80.5%, specificity of 56.4%, positive predictive value of 1.8%, and negative predictive value of 91.0%. When applied to the validation cohort, the model exhibited good predictive accuracy. Conclusion We successfully developed and validated a risk scoring model for preoperative use that can predict the likelihood of unplanned conversion to thoracotomy during VATS of the lung.

Background: Propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) improves long-term outcomes after cancer surgery compared with inhalation anesthesia. However, its effect on patients undergoing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) surgery remains unclear. We aimed to compare the oncological outcomes of TIVA and inhalation anesthesia after curative resection of early-stage NSCLC. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of patients diagnosed with stage I or II NSCLC who underwent curative resection at a tertiary university hospital between January 2010 and December 2017. The primary outcomes were recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) according to anesthesia type. Results: We included 1,508 patients with stage I/II NSCLC. The patients were divided into the TIVA (n = 980) and Inhalation (n = 528) groups. The two groups were well-balanced in terms of baseline clinical characteristics. The TIVA group demonstrated significantly improved RFS (7.7 years, 95% CI [7.37, 8.02]) compared with the Inhalation group (6.8 years, 95% CI [6.30, 7.22], P = 0.003). Similarly, TIVA was superior to inhalation agents with respect to OS (median OS; 8.4 years, 95% CI [8.08, 8.69] vs. 7.3 years, 95% CI [6.81, 7.71]; P < 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that TIVA was an independent prognostic factor related to recurrence (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.24, 95% CI [1.04, 1.47], P = 0.014) and OS (HR: 1.39, 95% CI [1.12, 1.72], P = 0.002). Conclusions Propofol-based TIVA was associated with better RFS and OS than inhalation anesthesia in patients with stage I/II NSCLC who underwent curative resection.

Background: Upadacitinib is an oral Janus kinase1 (JAK1)-selective inhibitor, which showed a quick and significant effect on patients with atopic dermatitis in several phase 3 clinical studies. Although, an increasing number of studies have reported data on the real-world efficacy and safety of upadacitinib for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, no studies have yet been published in Korea. Objective: We assessed the real-world efficacy and safety of upadacitinib for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in Korean patients. Methods: A total of 17 patients with atopic dermatitis who received 15 mg of oral upadacitinib everyday for 16 weeks, were included in this retrospective single-center study. Based on electronic medical records, the clinical characteristics, Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score, and adverse events were investigated. Results: The mean EASI score was significantly reduced at 4 weeks of upadacitinib treatment (8.81±9.00) and gradually reduced at week 8 (5.70±7.38), week 12 (4.55±6.23), and week 16 (4.58±6.74) (p＜0.001). At week 16, 61.54%, 30.77%, and 15.38% of patients achieved EASI 75, EASI 90, and EASI 100 responses, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between EASI 75 and EASI 90 by age or gender at week 16 (p＞0.05). A total of 13 people (76.5%) had adverse events, of which acne was the most common. In all patients, the symptoms were mild and self-limited, and no patient discontinued treatment. Conclusion Upadacitinib was effective and safe for Korean patients with atopic dermatitis in real-world clinical practice.

Background: and Purpose Lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) occasionally appear on follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) among initially DWI-negative but clinically suspicious stroke patients. We established the prevalence of positive conversion in DWI-negative stroke and determined the clinical factors associated with it. Methods: This retrospective, observational, single-center study included 5,271 patients hospitalized due to stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) in a single university hospital during 2010 to 2017. Patients without initial DWI lesions underwent follow-up DWI imaging as a routine practice. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for recurrent stroke risk according to positive conversion were determined using Cox proportional hazard regression. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for positive conversion among initially DWI-negative patients were estimated. Results: In total, 694 (13.2%) patients (mean±standard deviation age, 62.9±13.7 years; male, 404 [58.2%]) were initially DWI-negative. Among them, 22.5% had positive-conversion on follow-up DWI. Positive conversion was associated with a higher risk of recurrent stroke (aHR, 3.12; 95% CI, 1.56 to 6.26). Early neurologic deterioration (aOR, 15.1; 95% CI, 5.71 to 47.66), atrial fibrillation (aOR, 6.17; 95% CI, 3.23 to 12.01), smoking (aOR, 3.76; 95% CI, 2.19 to 6.63), pre-stroke dependency (aOR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.27), objective hemiparesis (aOR, 4.39; 95% CI, 1.90 to 10.32), longer symptom duration (aOR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.57 to 3.08), high cholesterol (aOR, 4.70; 95% CI, 1.78 to 12.77), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (aOR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.91), and high systolic blood pressure (aOR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.02) were associated with a higher incidence of lesions with delayed appearance. Regarding the location of lesions on follow-up DWI, 34.6% and 21.2% were in the cortex and brainstem, respectively. Conclusions In DWI-negative stroke/TIA, positive conversion is associated with a higher risk of recurrent stroke. DWI-negative stroke with factors related to positive conversion may require follow-up MRI for a definitive diagnosis.

Background: Accurate intraoperative assessment of mediastinal lymph nodes is a critical aspect of lung cancer surgery. The efficacy and potential for upstaging implicit in these dissections must therefore be revisited in the current era of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in which 544 patients with stage I (T1abc–T2a, N0, M0) primary lung cancer were analyzed. To assess risk factors for nodal upstaging and to limit any imbalance imposed by surgical choices, we constructed an inverse probability of treatment-weighted (IPTW) logistic regression model (in addition to non-weighted logistic models). We also evaluated risk factors for early locoregional recurrence using IPTW logistic regression analysis. Results: In the comparison of uniportal and multiportal VATS, the resected lymph node count (14.03±8.02 vs. 14.41±7.41, respectively; p=0.48) and rate of nodal upstaging (6.5% vs. 8.7%, respectively; p=0.51) appeared similar. Predictors of nodal upstaging included tumor size (odds ratio [OR], 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–2.70), carcinoembryonic antigen level (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04–1.18), and histologically confirmed pleural invasion (OR, 3.97; 95% CI, 1.89–8.34). The risk factors for locoregional recurrence within 1 year were found to be number of resected N2 nodes, age, and nodal upstaging. Conclusion Uniportal and multiportal VATS appear similar with regard to accuracy and thoroughness, showing no significant difference in the extent of nodal dissection.

Background: Risk assessment for pulmonary resection in patients with early-stage non– small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is important for minimizing postoperative morbidity. Depletion of skeletal muscle mass is closely associated with impaired nutritional status and limited physical ability. We evaluated the relationship between skeletal muscle depletion and early postoperative complications in patients with early-stage NSCLC. Methods: Patients who underwent curative lung resection between 2016 and 2018 and who were diagnosed with pathological stage I/II NSCLC were included, and their records were retrospectively analyzed. The psoas volume index (PVI, cm3/m3) was calculated based on computed tomography images from routine preoperative positron emission tomography- computed tomography. Early postoperative complications, defined as those occurring within 90 days of surgery, were compared between the lowest sex-specific quartile for PVI and the remaining quartiles. Results: A strong correlation was found between the volume and the cross-sectional area of the psoas muscle (R2=0.816). The overall rate of complications was 57.6% among patients with a low PVI and 32.8% among those with a normal-to-high PVI. The most common complication was prolonged air leak (low PVI, 16.9%; normal-to-high PVI, 9.6%), followed by pneumonia (low PVI, 13.6%; normal-to-high PVI, 7.9%) and recurrent pleural effusion (low PVI, 11.9%; normal-to-high PVI, 6.8%). The predictors of overall complications were low PVI (odds ratio [OR], 2.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07–4.09; p=0.03), low hemoglobin level (OR, 0.686; 95% CI, 0.54–0.87; p=0.002), and smoking history (OR, 3.93; 95% CI, 2.03–7.58; p<0.001). Conclusion Low PVI was associated with a higher rate of early postoperative complications in patients with early-stage NSCLC.

Atypical thymic carcinoid is an extremely rare tumor with a poor prognosis. In addition to its known association with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, its hallmark characteristics include local invasion and early distant metastasis. In this report, we share our experience treating atypical thymic carcinoid in a patient with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Atypical thymic carcinoid is an extremely rare tumor with a poor prognosis. In addition to its known association with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, its hallmark characteristics include local invasion and early distant metastasis. In this report, we share our experience treating atypical thymic carcinoid in a patient with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Carcinoid Tumor ; Humans ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Prognosis ; Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo examinie the synergistic effects of Banxia Xiexin Decoction (, Known as Banhasasim-tang in Korean) extract (BXDE) on cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in the A549 human lung cancer cell lines.

METHODSA549 cells were treated with varying concentrations (50-200 μg/mL) of cisplatin and BXDE alone or in combination for 96 h. We used 1-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenylformazan assay and flow cytometry to analyze cell viability and apoptosis, respectively.

RESULTSThe exposure of cells to cisplatin and BXDE alone or in combination decreased cell viability dose- and time-dependently (P<0.05), which was found to be mediated by the apoptotic pathway as confirmed by the increase in the annexin V/propidium iodide- stained cell population and a ladder pattern of discontinuous DNA fragments. Furthermore, the apoptosis was inhibited by the pan-caspase inhibitor, benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp (OMe) fluoromethylketone (z-VAD-FMK).

CONCLUSIONSBXDE significantly potentiated apoptotic effects of cisplatin in A549 cells. Moreover, apoptosis induced by BXDE might be the pivotal mechanism mediating its chemopreventative action against cancer.

A549 Cells ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Caspase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; DNA Fragmentation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology