Background/Aims: We developed a new endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) simulator and evaluated its efficacy and realism for use training endoscopists. Methods: An ESD simulator was constructed using polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel sheets and compared to a previous ESD simulator. Between March 1, 2020, and December 30, 2021, eight expert endoscopists from three different centers analyzed the procedure-related factors of the simulator. Five trainees performed gastric ESD exercises under the guidance of these experts. Results: Although the two ESD simulators provided overall favorable outcomes in terms of ESD-related factors, the new simulator had several benefits, including better marking of the target lesion’s limits (p<0.001) and overall handling (p<0.001). Trainees tested the usefulness of the new ESD simulator. The complete resection rate improved after 3 ESD training sessions (9 procedures), and the perforation rate decreased after 4 sessions (12 procedures). Conclusions We have developed a new ESD simulator that can help beginners achieve a high level of technical experience before performing real-time ESD procedures in patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate gender difference in empathic ability and recognition of facial emotion expression in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: Twenty-two schizophrenic outpatients (11 men and 11 women) and controls (10 men and 12 women) performed both the scale of Empathic Quotient (EQ) and facial emotion recognition test. We compared the scores of EQ and the facial emotion recognition test among each group according to diagnosis and gender. RESULTS: We found a significant sex difference in the scores of EQ and the facial emotion recognition test in the schizophrenic patients. And there were significantly negative correlation between the score of the facial emotion recognition test and the scores of Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) in female schizophrenic patients. However, in male schizophrenic patients, there were no significant correlations between the score of each test and the scores of PANSS. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the sex difference in empathic ability and facial emotion recognition would be very important in chronic schizophrenic patients. Investigation of sex effects in empathic ability and facial emotion recognition in chronic schizophrenic patients would present an important solution for constructing optimal rehabilitation program.
Diagnosis ; Empathy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Outpatients ; Rehabilitation ; Schizophrenia ; Sex Characteristics

No abstract available.
Child ; Humans ; Sparganosis

Advanced gastric cancer with skeletal muscle metastasis is a rare occurrence. Here, we report a rare case of gastric carcinoma with psoas muscle metastasis. This patient had advanced gastric carcinoma and complained of inability to extend the left hip joint due to pain. Because magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an iliopsoas mass showing heterogeneous signal intensity with fluid collection and enhancement around the mass, we speculated that the mass was an intramuscular metastatic tumor from primary gastric carcinoma as well as an intramuscular abscess. Histopathologically, the patient had a metastasis from primary gastric adenocarcinoma. Therefore, the patient was treated with radiotherapy and subsequent chemotherapy.
Abscess ; Adenocarcinoma ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Psoas Muscles ; Stomach Neoplasms

Accessory spleen can be mistaken as a gastric subepithelial mass, and may not be differentiated in CT or endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). A gastric subepithelial mass was detected on routine endoscopy in a 39-year old woman with history of splenectomy. In subsequent CT and EUS, the subepithelial mass was located on the fourth layer of the stomach. To make a definite diagnosis, EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) was performed, and a splenic tissue was demonstrated in histologic examination. EUS-guided FNA can be beneficial in the diagnosis of accessory spleen which mimics a gastric subepithelial mass.
Adult ; Antigens, CD34/metabolism ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Endosonography ; Female ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Splenic Diseases/pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Advanced gastric cancer with skeletal muscle metastasis is a rare occurrence. Here, we report a rare case of gastric carcinoma with psoas muscle metastasis. This patient had advanced gastric carcinoma and complained of inability to extend the left hip joint due to pain. Because magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an iliopsoas mass showing heterogeneous signal intensity with fluid collection and enhancement around the mass, we speculated that the mass was an intramuscular metastatic tumor from primary gastric carcinoma as well as an intramuscular abscess. Histopathologically, the patient had a metastasis from primary gastric adenocarcinoma. Therefore, the patient was treated with radiotherapy and subsequent chemotherapy.
Abscess ; Adenocarcinoma ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Psoas Muscles ; Stomach Neoplasms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Primary involvement of the peripheral nerves in myotonic dystrophy type I (MyD1) is controversial. We investigated whether the involvement of peripheral nerves is a primary event of MyD1 or secondary to another complication such as diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: The subjects comprised 12 patients with MyD1, 12 with DM and no peripheral nerve involvement, and 25 healthy volunteers. We measured multiple excitability indices in the median motor axons. The strength-duration time constant was calculated from the duration-charge curve, the threshold electrotonus and current-threshold relationships were calculated from the sequential subthreshold current, and the recovery cycle was derived from double suprathreshold stimulation. RESULTS: The depolarizing and hyperpolarizing threshold electrotonus were significantly reduced and exhibited increased refractoriness in the MyD1 group compared with the DM and control groups. The SDTC, superexcitability, and subexcitability were not significantly altered in the MyD1 group. CONCLUSIONS: The MyD1 group exhibited a depolarized axonal membrane potential. The significant differences in peripheral nerve excitability between the MyD1 group and the DM and normal control groups suggest that peripheral neuropathy is a primary event in MyD1 rather than a secondary complication of DM.
Axons ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Membrane Potentials ; Myotonic Dystrophy ; Peripheral Nerves ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Sarcosine ; Thiocarbamates

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the usefulness of the following four comorbidity indices in gastric cancer patients who underwent surgery: Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Cumulative Illness rating scale (CIRS), Index of Co-existent Disease (ICED), and Kaplan-Feinstein Scale (KFS). METHODS: The study subjects were 614 adults who underwent surgery for gastric cancer at K hospital between 2005 and 2007. We examined the test-retest and inter-rater reliability of 4 comorbidity indices for 50 patients. Reliability was evaluated with Spearman rho coefficients for CCI and CIRS, while Kappa values were used for the ICED and KFS indices. Logistic regression was used to determine how these comorbidity indices affected unplanned readmission and death. Multiple regression was used for determining if the comorbidity indices affected length of stay and hospital costs. RESULTS: The test-retest reliability of CCI and CIRS was substantial (Spearman rho=0.746 and 0.775, respectively), while for ICED and KFS was moderate (Kappa=0.476 and 0.504, respectively). The inter-rater reliability of the CCI, CIRS, and ICED was moderate (Spearman rho=0.580 and 0.668, and Kappa=0.433, respectively), but for KFS was fair (Kappa=0.383). According to the results from logistic regression, unplanned readmissions and deaths were not significantly different between the comorbidity index scores. But, according to the results from multiple linear regression, the CIRS group showed a significantly increased length of hospital stay (p<0.01). Additionally, CCI showed a significant association with increased hospital costs (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the CCI index may be useful in the estimation of comorbidities associated with hospital costs, while the CIRS index may be useful where estimatation of comorbiditie associated with the length of hospital stay are concerned.
Adult ; Aged ; Comorbidity/trends ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Stomach/pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms/*epidemiology/mortality/pathology/surgery

PURPOSE: To investigate the treatment outcome and failure patterns after definitive chemoradiation therapy in locally advanced, unresectable esophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 1994 to December 2002, 168 patients with locally advanced unresectable or medically inoperable esophageal cancer were treated by definitive chemoradiation therapy. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) (42~46 Gy) was delivered to the region encompassing the primary tumor and involved lymph nodes, while the supraclavicular fossa and celiac area were included in the treatment area as a function of disease location. The administered cone-down radiation dose to the gross tumor went up to 54~66 Gy, while the fraction size of the EBRT was 1.8-2.0 Gy/fraction qd or 1.2 Gy/fraction bid. An optional high dose rate (HDR) intraluminal brachytherapy (BT) boost was also administered (Ir-192, 9~12 Gy/3~4 fx). Two cycles of concurrent FP chemotherapy (5-FU 1,000 mg/m2/day, days 2~6, 30~34, cisplatin 60 mg/m2/day, days 1, 29) were delivered during radiotherapy with the addition of two more cycles. RESULTS: One hundred sixty patients were analyzable for this review [median follow-up time: 10 months (range 1~149 months)]. The number of patients within AJCC stages I, II, III, and IV was 5 (3.1%), 38 (23.8%), 68 (42.5%), and 49 (30.6%), respectively. A HDR intraluminal BT was performed in 26 patients. The 160 patients had a median EBRT radiation dose of 59.4 Gy (range 44.4~66) and a total radiation dose, including BT, of 60 Gy (range 44.4~72), while 144 patients received a dose higher than 40 Gy. Despite the treatment, the disease recurrence rate was 101/160 (63.1%). Of these, the patterns of recurrence were local in 20 patients (12.5%), persistent disease and local progression in 61 (38.1%), distant metastasis in 15 (9.4%), and concomitant local and distant failure in 5 (3.1%). The overall survival rate was 31.8% at 2 years and 14.2% at 5 years (median 11.1 months). Disease-free survival was 29.0% at 2 years and 22.7% at 5 years (median 10.4 months). The response to treatment and N-stage were significant factors affecting overall survival. In addition, total radiation dose (> or =50 Gy vs. <50 Gy), BT and fractionation scheme (qd. vs. bid.) were not significant factors for overall survival and disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: Survival outcome after definitive chemoradiation therapy in unresectable esophageal cancer was comparable to those of other series. The main failure pattern was local recurrence. Survival rate did not improve with increased radiation dose over 50 Gy or the use of brachytherapy or hyperfractionation.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Esophageal Neoplasms

PURPOSE: Tibial internal torsion is prevalent in East Asian countries such as Korea and Japan, where sitting on the floor is common behavior. Tibial internal torsion or excessive lateral tibial torsion may cause esthetical, functional, or psychological problems and also may induce degenerative arthritis in older age. The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Tibial Counter Rotator (TCR) in patients with tibial internal torsion. Method:One hundred forty nine children (274 limbs) with tibial internal torsion participated in this study. Transmalleolar angle were measured with gravity goniometer. When tibial internal torsion was detected, TCR was applied at least for 3 hours a day during sleep. The patient's progress was followed monthly and transmalleolar angle was reevaluated by the same examiner. RESULTS: Transmalleolar angle was significantly increased in patients with tibial internal torsion during TCR application (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: TCR can be one of the effective methods for correcting tibial internal torsion in children under 12 years old of age.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child* ; Gravitation ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Osteoarthritis ; Tibia*