Purpose: To assess the feasibility and short-term efficacy of maintenance enzalutamide following first-line docetaxel plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with high-volume, metastatic castration-naive prostate cancer (mCNPC). Materials and Methods: The present study included 38 consecutive patients with mCNPC who did not have disease progression with ADT plus docetaxel between October 2022 and October 2023. Patients received a switch maintenance therapy with enzalutamide until progression, unacceptable toxicity, or patient withdrawal. Endpoints included time to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression and safety. Results: Among the 38 patients, the median age was 68 years, and the most frequently observed metastatic site was bone (n=36), followed by lymph nodes (n=28), lung (n=8), and liver (n=1). The median duration of firstline docetaxel was 2.8 months (range, 2.7–5.0 months). At the time of commencing maintenance enzalutamide, the median PSA was 3.2 ng/mL (range, 0.01–258 ng/mL). Maintenance enzalutamide was generally welltolerated. A total of 11 patients (28%) discontinued enzalutamide, and the main reasons included adverse events (prolonged fatigue of grade 1 or 2, n=6), disease progression (n=3) and financial burdens (n=2). Median time to PSA progression was not reached, and 93% were PSA progression-free at 12 months. Conclusions Maintenance enzalutamide is a feasible treatment option with potential clinical benefit for patients with high-volume mCNPC who were progression-free after first-line ADT+docetaxel.

Purpose: There remains a lot of unmet need to increase understanding of node-positive (ypN+) muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical cystectomy to decide the appropriate therapeutics. Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study using the center cancer chemotherapy registry, we found 113 MIBC patients who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy involving gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP) followed by radical cystectomy between 2010 and 2014. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared according to the pathologic node positivity (ypN- vs. ypN+). Among a total of 165 patients with MIBC who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy involving GP, 118 underwent radical cystectomy. In 46 patients with ypN+ disease, DFS and OS were evaluated according to administration of adjuvant GP. Results: After neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical cystectomy, 41% of patients had ypN+ disease, which showed significantly shorter DFS (median, 7.4 months; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.3–9.6 months) and OS (median, 20.0 months; 95% CI, 13.4–26.6 months) compared to those with ypN- disease. The patients with ypN+ disease had a high risk of recurrence or death, regardless of the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy or adjuvant regimen. Conclusions Within the limitations of this retrospective study, MIBC patients with ypN+ disease despite neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical cystectomy had a poor prognosis. Further studies involving novel, effective adjuvant treatment including immunotherapy agents are needed to reduce the high risk of recurrence or death in these patients.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with early pulmonary hypertension (PH). Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 22 preterm infants who were born <30 weeks of gestational age with birth weight <1,500 g, diagnosed with early PH, and treated with iNO within the first 72 hours after birth. Responders were defined by a reduction in FiO 2 >20% and/or oxygenation index (OI) >20% from the baseline values at 1 hour after beginning iNO therapy. Cardiorespiratory support indices including OI, oxygen saturation index, and vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) were serially obtained for 96 hours following iNO therapy. Results: The mean gestational age of the patients was 26.1±2.0 weeks and the mean birth weight was 842±298 g. The mean OI at the start of iNO was 63.8±61.0. Impro vement in oxygenation indicated by prompt decrease in FiO 2 and OI from the base line values were observed 1 hour after beginning iNO therapy and lasted up to 96 hours. After iNO therapy, VIS increased until 24 hours and decreased thereafter. At 1 hour after iNO, 16 patients (73%) were classified as responders and six (27%) as nonresponders. Compared with nonresponders, responders did not demonstrate the beneficial effect of iNO in terms of short-term survival and neonatal complications.The 1-year mortality rate did not differ between responders (56%) and nonresponders (67%). Conclusion Although iNO treatment immediately improved oxygenation in most VLBW infants with early severe PH, the long-term mortality rate was high. A largescale study is needed to determine whether the initial response to iNO can predict patients’ survival.

Purpose: There remains a lot of unmet need to increase understanding of node-positive (ypN+) muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical cystectomy to decide the appropriate therapeutics. Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study using the center cancer chemotherapy registry, we found 113 MIBC patients who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy involving gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP) followed by radical cystectomy between 2010 and 2014. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared according to the pathologic node positivity (ypN- vs. ypN+). Among a total of 165 patients with MIBC who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy involving GP, 118 underwent radical cystectomy. In 46 patients with ypN+ disease, DFS and OS were evaluated according to administration of adjuvant GP. Results: After neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical cystectomy, 41% of patients had ypN+ disease, which showed significantly shorter DFS (median, 7.4 months; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.3–9.6 months) and OS (median, 20.0 months; 95% CI, 13.4–26.6 months) compared to those with ypN- disease. The patients with ypN+ disease had a high risk of recurrence or death, regardless of the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy or adjuvant regimen. Conclusions Within the limitations of this retrospective study, MIBC patients with ypN+ disease despite neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical cystectomy had a poor prognosis. Further studies involving novel, effective adjuvant treatment including immunotherapy agents are needed to reduce the high risk of recurrence or death in these patients.

BACKGROUND: Epicardial fat tissue has unique endocrine and paracrine functions that affect the cardiac autonomic system. The head-up tilt test (HUTT) is a simple non-invasive measurement that assesses autonomic nervous system dysfunction. We investigated the association between epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and autonomic neural tone, such as vagal tone. METHODS: A total of 797 consecutive patients (mean age 46.5 years, male: 45.7%) who underwent HUTT and echocardiography between March 2006 and June 2015 were enrolled. EFT was measured during the diastolic phase of the parasternal long axis view. We excluded patients with prior percutaneous coronary intervention, old age (* 70 years old), valvular heart disease, symptomatic arrhythmias and diabetes. We divided patients into two groups based on the HUTT (positive vs. negative). RESULTS: There were 329 patients (41.3%) with a negative HUTT result and 468 patients (58.7%) with a positive result. The HUTT-positive patients showed a significantly lower waist circumference, body mass index and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, although a significantly higher EFT as compared to the HUTT-negative patients (HUTT-positive, 5.69 ± 1.76 mm vs. HUTT-negative, 5.24 ± 1.60 mm; p < 0.001). EFT > 5.4 mm was associated with a positive HUTT result with 51.7% sensitivity and 63.8% specificity (p < 0.001) on receiving operator characteristic analysis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that EFT (hazard ratio: 1.02, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.30, p = 0.004) was an independent predictor of HUTT-positivity. CONCLSION: EFT was significantly correlated with positive HUTT, which suggests an association between EFT and autonomic dysregulation.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Echocardiography ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Humans ; Male ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Syncope* ; Syncope, Vasovagal ; Waist Circumference

PURPOSE: Infliximab is currently used for the treatment of active Crohn's disease (CD). We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of infliximab therapy and to determine the predictors of response in Korean patients with CD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 317 patients who received at least one infliximab infusion for active luminal CD (n=198) and fistulizing CD (n=86) or both (n=33) were reviewed retrospectively in 29 Korean referral centers. Clinical outcomes of induction and maintenance therapy with infliximab, predictors of response, and adverse events were evaluated. RESULTS: In patients with luminal CD, the rates of clinical response and remission at week 14 were 89.2% and 60.0%, respectively. Male gender and isolated colonic disease were associated with higher remission rates at week 14. In week-14 responders, the probabilities of sustained response and remission were 96.2% and 93.3% at week 30 and 88.0% and 77.0% at week 54, respectively. In patients with fistulizing CD, clinical response and remission were observed in 85.0% and 56.2% of patients, respectively, at week 14. In week-14 responders, the probabilities of sustained response and remission were 94.0% and 97.1%, respectively, at both week 30 and week 54. Thirty-nine patients (12.3%) experienced adverse events related to infliximab. Serious adverse events developed in 19 (6.0%) patients including seven cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: Infliximab induction and maintenance therapy are effective and well tolerable in Korean patients with luminal and fistulizing CD. However, clinicians must be aware of the risk of rare yet critical adverse events.
Colonic Diseases ; Crohn Disease* ; Humans ; Infliximab* ; Male ; Phenobarbital ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Advances in neonatal intensive care have improved the chances for survival of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. However, ELBW infants are at high risk of meningitis and resulting neurologic complications. The most common organisms associated with neonatal bacterial meningitis include Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Group B Streptococcus. Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), an organism commonly found in soil, vegetation, and daily products, can sometimes cause meningitis owing to preformed toxins. We report a rare case of meningoencephalitis caused by B. cereus that resulted in a detrimental neurological outcome in an ELBW infant.
Bacillus cereus* ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Listeria monocytogenes ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; Meningoencephalitis* ; Soil ; Streptococcus

The aim of this project was to use 3D scanning data collected at incident scenes and various evidence to 1) develop surveying methods based on 3D data consisting of overall and detailed scene evidence, captured by long-range and micros-canner, which can be shared by personnel working in different fields such as forensic medicine, video analysis, physical analysis, traffic engineering, and fire investigation; 2) create digital storage for human skeletons and set the foundation for virtual anthropology; and 3) improve the credibility of 3D evidence by virtual remodeling and simulation of incident scenes and evidence to provide a basis for advanced and high-tech scientific investigation. Two complete skeletons of male and female were scanned using 3D micro-scanner. Each bone was successfully reproduced and assembled in virtual space. In addition, recreating evidence scheduled for invasive examination by creating RP (rapid prototype) was possible. These outcomes could play an important role in setting up the new field of virtual anthropology. Case-specific surveying methods were developed through analysis of 3D scanning data collected by long-range surface scanners at the scenes of vehicular accidents, falls, shootings, and violent crimes. A technique and recording method was also developed for detecting forged seals by micro-scanning the pressure exerted on the seal. Appraisal methods developed in this project could be utilized to secure 3D data of human skeletal remains and incident scenes, create a standard for application, and increase objectivity, reproducibility, and accuracy of scanning methods. We plan to develop case-specific 3D data analysis techniques to improve the credibility of analysis at the NFS and to establish a 3D data collection and analysis team.
Crime ; Data Collection ; Female ; Fires ; Forensic Medicine ; Forensic Sciences ; Humans ; Male ; Skeleton ; Statistics as Topic

Therapy-related ALL (t-ALL) is a rare secondary leukemia that develops after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for primary malignancies. Chromosomal 11q23 abnormalities are the most common karyotypic alterations in t-ALL. The t(11;19)(q23;p13) aberration is extremely rare and has not been confirmed at the molecular genetic level. Here, we report a case of t-ALL with t(11;19)(q23;p13.3) and MLL-MLLT1 (alias ENL) gene rearrangement confirmed by cytogenetic analysis, multiplex reverse transcription-PCR (multiplex RT-PCR), and DNA sequencing in a patient who had undergone treatment for breast cancer. A 40-yr-old woman developed acute leukemia 15 months after undergoing 6 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy (doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2), radiation therapy (dose, 5,900 cGy), and anticancer endocrine therapy with tamoxifen. The complete blood cell counts and bone marrow examination showed increased blasts and the blasts showed B lineage immunophenotype (positive for CD19, CD34, and cytoplasmic CD79a). Cytogenetic analysis revealed the karyotype 47,XX,+X,t(11;19)(q23;p13.3)[4]/46,XX[16]. FISH analyses, multiplex RT-PCR, and DNA sequencing confirmed the MLL-MLLT1 gene rearrangement. The patient underwent induction chemotherapy with fractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (Hyper-CVAD) and achieved complete remission. Subsequently, she underwent consolidation chemotherapy, but died of brain ischemia in the pons and the region of the middle cerebral artery. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of t-ALL with t(11;19)(q23;p13.3) and the MLL-MLLT1 gene rearrangement.
Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Base Sequence ; Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy/radiotherapy ; *Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; *Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin/therapeutic use ; Female ; Gene Rearrangement ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Karyotyping ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/*genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins/*genetics ; Nuclear Proteins/*genetics ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/*diagnosis/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tamoxifen/therapeutic use ; Transcription Factors/*genetics ; *Translocation, Genetic

PURPOSE: Hearing loss is one of the common birth defects in humans, with a reported prevalence of 1-3 per 1000 newborns. We investigated the incidence of hearing loss and evaluated the use of neonatal hearing screening test in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) graduates who are at greater risk for hearing loss than normal newborns. METHODS: The neonates admitted to the NICU of Asan Medical Center from 1 March, 2003 to 30 March, 2008 who were available for follow-up were included. Those who failed the first auditory brainstem response prior to discharge were retested with the stapedial reflex test, auditory brainstem response and tympanometry in the Otolaryngology department. RESULTS: Of 2,137 neonates, 2,000 (93.5%) neonates were tested prior to discharge. Sixty-seven neonates (3.4%) failed the first newborn hearing screening test. Of 67 infants, 52 infants were retested for a second hearing test. Excluding 10 infants (19.2%) who were lost during follow-up, 16 infants were confirmed to have hearing impairment of which 12 and 4 infants had unilateral and bilateral hearing loss, respectively. Of 16 infants, 5 did not meet the criteria set by the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hearing impairment in NICU graduates is about 0.8%, excluding those who were lost for follow up, necessitating a systemic and effective hearing assessment program among these high risk infants and more generous national insurance coverage.
Acoustic Impedance Tests ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Bilateral ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Insurance Coverage ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Mass Screening ; National Health Programs ; Otolaryngology ; Prevalence ; Reflex