Purpose: The aim of this study was to show that bariatric surgery (BS) is more effective than medical therapy (MT) in Asian obese patients. Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized, controlled trial, obese patients with body mass index of ≥35 kg/m2 or 30.0–34.9 kg/m2 with obesity-related comorbidities were assigned to undergo BS, such as laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, or MT. Patients who underwent BS were evaluated 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks after surgery, whereas patients who received MT were monitored at a hospital every 6 weeks for 1 year. At each visit, weight, waist and hip circumference, and blood pressure were measured, and patients underwent physical examination and laboratory testing. Health-related quality of life (HQOL) was investigated using Euro QOL-5 Dimension, Impact of Weight on Quality of Life questionnaire-Lite and Obesity-related Problems scale. Results: The study included 264 patients from 13 institutions; of these, 64 underwent BS and 200 received MT. Of the patients who underwent BS, 6.3% experienced early complications. Relative weight changes from baseline to 48 weeks were significantly greater in the BS than in the MT group (26.9% vs. 2.1%, P < 0.001), as were the rates of remission of diabetes (47.8% vs. 16.7%, P = 0.014), hypertension (60.0% vs. 26.1%, P < 0.001), and dyslipidemia (63.2% vs. 22.0%, P < 0.001). HQOL was better in the BS than in the MT group at 48 weeks. Conclusion BS was safe and effective in Korean obese patients, with greater weight reduction, remission of comorbidities, and quality of life improvement than MT.

Objective: To investigate the action observation effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on the communication between motor cortex and muscle through corticomuscular coherence (CMC) analysis. Methods: Electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) of 27 healthy, nonathlete subjects were measured during action observation, FES, and action observation with FES, which lasted for 7sper session for 10 times. All trials were repeated for 30 times. Simultaneously measured EEG raw data and rectified EMG signals were used to calculate CMC. Only confidence limit values above 0.0306 were used for analysis. CMC was divided into three frequency domains, andthe grand average coherence and peak coherence were computed. Repeated ANOVA was performed to analyze the coherence value difference for each condition’s frequency band. Results: CMC showed significant differences in peak coherence and average coherence between the conditions (p<0.05). Action observation application with FES in all frequency band showed the highest peak and average coherence value. Conclusions The results of this study are assumed to be the combination of increased eccentric information transfer from the sensory-motor cortex by action observation and an increased in concentric sensory input from the peripheral by the FES, suggesting that these are reflecting the sensorimotor integration process.

Objective: To investigate the action observation effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on the communication between motor cortex and muscle through corticomuscular coherence (CMC) analysis. Methods: Electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) of 27 healthy, nonathlete subjects were measured during action observation, FES, and action observation with FES, which lasted for 7sper session for 10 times. All trials were repeated for 30 times. Simultaneously measured EEG raw data and rectified EMG signals were used to calculate CMC. Only confidence limit values above 0.0306 were used for analysis. CMC was divided into three frequency domains, andthe grand average coherence and peak coherence were computed. Repeated ANOVA was performed to analyze the coherence value difference for each condition’s frequency band. Results: CMC showed significant differences in peak coherence and average coherence between the conditions (p<0.05). Action observation application with FES in all frequency band showed the highest peak and average coherence value. Conclusions The results of this study are assumed to be the combination of increased eccentric information transfer from the sensory-motor cortex by action observation and an increased in concentric sensory input from the peripheral by the FES, suggesting that these are reflecting the sensorimotor integration process.

Purpose: Quality of life (QOL) has become important in the trend of emphasizing patient satisfaction. This study aimed to evaluate the QOL in patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods: A prospective trial was performed involving patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy for primary gastric cancer at 11 hospitals in Korea. Within this comparative trial, QOL, postoperative pain, and long-term complications were exanimated. The quality-of-life questionnaire (QLQ)-C30 and QLQ-STO22 developed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer were used for the QOL survey. We compared the data after dividing it into several types of characteristics as follows; device (robotic or laparoscopic), operation type, pathological stage, and sex.Biased components were extracted by logistic regression analysis. Propensity score matching was applied to the data set with the biased components. Results: In total, 434 patients (211 for laparoscopic surgery and 223 for robotic surgery) were enrolled, out of which 321 patients who responded to both preoperative and postoperative surveys were selected for analysis. Robotic gastrectomy was not different from laparoscopic gastrectomy with respect to postoperative QOL. Distal gastrectomy showed better scores than total gastrectomy in terms of role functioning, social functioning, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, pain, dyspnea, constipation, financial difficulties, dysphagia, eating restrictions, anxiety, taste, and body image. Male patients showed better scores on the 19 scales compared to female patients. Conclusion Robotic and laparoscopic approaches for gastric cancer surgery did not differ from each other with respect to QOL. Distal gastrectomy resulted in better QOL than total gastrectomy.

Axl receptor tyrosine kinase has been implicated in cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis in various cancer types. Axl overexpression has been observed in many cancers, and selective inhibitors of Axl, including R428, may be promising therapeutic agents for several human cancers, such as breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers. Here, we examined the cell growth inhibition mediated by R428 and auranofin individually as well as in combination in the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDAMB-231 to identify new advanced combination treatments for human breast cancer. Our data showed that combination therapy with R428 and auranofin markedly inhibited cancer cell proliferation. Isobologram analyses of these cells indicated a clear synergism between R428 and auranofin with a combination index value of 0.73. The combination treatment promoted apoptosis as indicated by caspase 3 activation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Cancer cell migration was also significantly inhibited by this combination treatment. Moreover, we found that combination therapy significantly increased the expression level of Bax, a mitochondrial proapoptotic factor, but decreased that of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein. Furthermore, the suppression of cell viability and induction of Bax expression by the combination treatment were recovered by treatment with N-acetylcysteine. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that combined treatment with R428 and auranofin synergistically induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells and may thus serve as a novel and valuable approach for cancer therapy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diffuse long coronary artery disease (DLCAD) still has unfavorable clinical outcomes after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Resolute™ zotarolimus-eluting stent (R-ZES; Resolute™ Integrity) for patients with DLCAD. METHODS: From December 2011 to December 2014, 1,011 patients who underwent PCI using R-ZES for CAD with longer than 25 mm lesion were prospectively enrolled from 21 hospitals in Korea. We assessed the clinical outcome of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and clinically-driven target vessel revascularization at 12 months. RESULTS: Mean age was 63.8±10.8 years, 701 (69.3%) patients were male, 572 (87.0%) patients had hypertension, 339 (33.8%) patients had diabetes, 549 (54.3%) patients diagnosed with acute MI and 545 (53.9%) patients had multi-vessel disease (MVD). A total of 1,697 stents were implanted into a total of 1,472 lesions. The mean diameter was 3.07±0.38 mm and the length was 28.27±6.97 mm. Multiple overlapping stents were performed in 205 (13.8%) lesions. A 12-month clinical follow-up was available in 1,004 patients (99.3%). The incidences of MACE and definite stent thrombosis at 12-month were 3.0% and 0.3% respectively. On multivariate Cox-regression analysis, multiple overlapping stents implantation, previous congestive heart failure, MVD, and age ≥75 years were independent predictors of one-year MACE. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that R-ZES has an excellent 1-year clinical outcome in Korean patients with DLCAD.
Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Death ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prospective Studies ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Treatment Outcome

Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma (CCOC), a rare tumor in the head and neck region, displays comparable properties with other tumors clinically and pathologically. In consequence, an incorrect diagnosis may be established. A 51-year-old male patient who was admitted to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Pusan National University Dental Hospital was initially diagnosed with ameloblastoma via incisional biopsy. However, the excised mass of the patient was observed to manifest histopathological characteristics of ameloblastic carcinoma. The lesion was ultimately diagnosed as clear cell odontogenic carcinoma by the Department of Oral Pathology of Pusan National Dental University. Therefore, segmental mandibulectomy and bilateral neck dissection were performed, followed by reconstruction with fibula free flap and reconstruction plate. Concomitant chemotherapy radiotherapy was not necessary. The patient has been followed up, and no recurrence has occurred 6 months after surgery.
Ameloblastoma ; Ameloblasts ; Biopsy ; Busan ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Drug Therapy ; Fibula ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Mandibular Osteotomy ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neck Dissection ; Pathology, Oral ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Surgery, Oral

Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma (CCOC), a rare tumor in the head and neck region, displays comparable properties with other tumors clinically and pathologically. In consequence, an incorrect diagnosis may be established. A 51-year-old male patient who was admitted to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Pusan National University Dental Hospital was initially diagnosed with ameloblastoma via incisional biopsy. However, the excised mass of the patient was observed to manifest histopathological characteristics of ameloblastic carcinoma. The lesion was ultimately diagnosed as clear cell odontogenic carcinoma by the Department of Oral Pathology of Pusan National Dental University. Therefore, segmental mandibulectomy and bilateral neck dissection were performed, followed by reconstruction with fibula free flap and reconstruction plate. Concomitant chemotherapy radiotherapy was not necessary. The patient has been followed up, and no recurrence has occurred 6 months after surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diffuse long coronary artery disease (DLCAD) still has unfavorable clinical outcomes after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Resolute™ zotarolimus-eluting stent (R-ZES; Resolute™ Integrity) for patients with DLCAD. METHODS: From December 2011 to December 2014, 1,011 patients who underwent PCI using R-ZES for CAD with longer than 25 mm lesion were prospectively enrolled from 21 hospitals in Korea. We assessed the clinical outcome of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and clinically-driven target vessel revascularization at 12 months. RESULTS: Mean age was 63.8±10.8 years, 701 (69.3%) patients were male, 572 (87.0%) patients had hypertension, 339 (33.8%) patients had diabetes, 549 (54.3%) patients diagnosed with acute MI and 545 (53.9%) patients had multi-vessel disease (MVD). A total of 1,697 stents were implanted into a total of 1,472 lesions. The mean diameter was 3.07±0.38 mm and the length was 28.27±6.97 mm. Multiple overlapping stents were performed in 205 (13.8%) lesions. A 12-month clinical follow-up was available in 1,004 patients (99.3%). The incidences of MACE and definite stent thrombosis at 12-month were 3.0% and 0.3% respectively. On multivariate Cox-regression analysis, multiple overlapping stents implantation, previous congestive heart failure, MVD, and age ≥75 years were independent predictors of one-year MACE. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that R-ZES has an excellent 1-year clinical outcome in Korean patients with DLCAD.