Background/Aims: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors in the stomach. We evaluated the clinical outcomes of endoscopic treatment for gastric GISTs. Methods: This is a single center, retrospective study that enrolled 135 cases of gastric subepithelial tumors (SETs) resected by endoscopic procedures and confirmed as GISTs by histopathology from March 2005 to July 2019. The immediate and long-term clinical outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The mean patient age was 57.9 years, and the mean tumor size was 2.1 cm. Of the tumors, 43.0% were located in the body, followed by the fundus (26.7%) and cardia (17.0%). Most tumors (85.2%) were resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection, followed by endoscopic mucosal resection (6.7%), submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (5.9%), and endoscopic full-thickness resection (2.2%). Macroperforation occurred in 4.4% and microperforation in 6.7% of the cases. The R0 resection rate was 15.6%. However, the rate of complete resection by the endoscopic view was 90.4%, of which 54.8% of cases were in the very-low-risk group, followed by the low-risk group (28.1%), intermediate-risk group (11.9%), and high-risk group (5.2%). During 36.5 months of follow-up, recurrence was found in four (3.4%) of the 118 patients who were monitored for more than 6 months (low-risk group, 1/37 [2.7%]; intermediate-risk group, 2/11 [18.2%]; high-risk group, 1/6 [16.7%]). Conclusions Endoscopic treatment of a GIST appears to be a feasible procedure in selected cases. However, additional surgery should be considered if the pathologic results correspond to intermediate- or high-risk groups.

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of healthy lifestyle interventions (HLSIs) on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in childhood and adolescent cancer survivors (CACS). Methods: Major databases were searched for English-language original articles published between January 1, 2000 and May 2, 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs were included. Quality was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and a meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3 software. Results: Nineteen studies were included. Significant effects on HR-QoL were found for interventions using a multi-modal approach (exercise and education) (d=-0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]=-0.84 to -0.07, p=.02), lasting not less than 6 months (d=-0.72; 95% CI=-1.15 to -0.29, p=.0010), and using a group approach (d=-0.46; 95% CI=-0.85 to -0.06, p=.02). Self-efficacy showed significant effects when HLSIs provided health education only (d=-0.55; 95% CI=-0.92 to -0.18; p=.003), lasted for less than 6 months (d=-0.40; 95% CI=-0.69 to -0.11, p=.006), and were conducted individually (d=-0.55; 95% CI=-0.92 to -0.18, p=.003). The physical outcomes (physical activity, fatigue, exercise capacity-VO2, exercise capacity-upper body, body mass index) revealed no statistical significance. Conclusion Areas of HLSIs for CACS requiring further study were identified, and needs and directions of research for holistic health management were suggested.

Background: and Purpose: In this study we aimed to find the association between neuropsychological performance and body mass index (BMI) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In addition, we investigated the effects of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype in the relationship between the BMI and cognition in MCI. Methods: We enrolled a cohort of 3,038 subjects with MCI aged 65–90 from the Clinical Research Center for Dementia of South Korea and a dementia cohort of the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. MCI patients were classified into three subgroups according to the Asian standard of BMI. We compared cognitive performances between groups by one-way analysis of variance. To investigate the effects of the APOE genotype, we used multivariate linear regression models after adjusting for possible confounders. Results: Even though normal BMI groups were younger, had more females, and had less comorbidities, the higher BMI groups had better cognitive functions. Among subjects with APOE ε4 carriers, there was a positive relationship between the BMI and the memory task alone. Conclusions Our findings suggested that higher BMI in patients with MCI were associated with better cognitive performance. The effects of the APOE ε4 genotype in the associations between BMI and cognition were distinguishing. Therefore, according to physical status, APOE ε4 genotype-specific strategies in the assessments and treatments may be necessary in elderly patients with MCI.

The primary healing potential of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has been reported to be extremely poor in clinical and experimental studies. Most authors believe that the ACL does not heal spontaneously after rupture. In 1998, Kurosaka et al. reported two cases of a spontaneously healed torn ACL after non-surgical treatment; only a few cases have been reported. There are some reports of the spontaneously healed ACL or good clinical results after an ACL rupture in a conservative treatment group, but most studies were done by follow-up MRI or the clinical scores. This study experienced a case of spontaneous healing of a ruptured ACL confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopy. This paper reports a case with a review of the literature.

Purpose: Various clinical practice guidelines recommend at least 12 regional lymph nodes should be removed for resected colon cancer. According to a recent study, the lymph node yield (LNY) in colon cancer surgery in the last 20 years has tended to increase from 14.91 to 21.30. However, it is unclear whether these guidelines adequately reflect recent findings on the number of harvested lymph nodes in colon cancer surgery. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of an LNY of more than 25 on survival in right-sided colon cancer. Methods: We included 285 patients who underwent a right hemicolectomy during the period from January 2010 through December 2015. Patients were divided into two groups (<25 nodes and ≥25 nodes). Primary endpoints included 5-year and 10-year survival including disease-free and overall. Results: We found that survival outcomes of patients with a harvest of ≥25 nodes were not significantly different compared with a <25 group. Large tumor size (5 cm) is significantly associated with poor 5-year and 10-year overall survival. Conclusion Survival outcomes of patients with a harvest of ≥25 nodes were not significantly different compared with the <25 group in stage II colon cancer with no risk.

Purpose: This study analyzed research trends related to childhood and adolescent cancer survivors (CACS) using word co-occurrence network analysis on studies registered in the Korean Citation Index (KCI). Methods: This word co-occurrence network analysis study explored major research trends by constructing a network based on relationships between keywords (semantic morphemes) in the abstracts of published articles. Research articles published in the KCI over the past 10 years were collected using the Biblio Data Collector tool included in the NetMiner Program (version 4), using "cancer survivors", "adolescent", and "child" as the main search terms. After pre-processing, analyses were conducted on centrality (degree and eigenvector), cohesion (community), and topic modeling. Results: For centrality, the top 10 keywords included "treatment", "factor", "intervention", "group", "radiotherapy", "health", "risk", "measurement", "outcome", and "quality of life". In terms of cohesion and topic analysis, three categories were identified as the major research trends: "treatment and complications", "adaptation and support needs", and "management and quality of life". Conclusion The keywords from the three main categories reflected interdisciplinary identification. Many studies on adaptation and support needs were identified in our analysis of nursing literature. Further research on managing and evaluating the quality of life among CACS must also be conducted.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare differences in spiritual needs (SNs) and factors influencing SNs between patients with progressive terminal kidney disease and their family caregivers. Methods: An explorative comparative survey was used to identify the SNs of patients (N=102) with progressive terminal kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis and their family caregivers (N=88) at a general hospital located in Seoul, South Korea. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, the independent t-test, one way analysis of variance, the Scheffé test, and multiple regression with dummy variables. Results: The SNs among family caregivers were higher than in the patient group. SNs were higher among those who were religious in both groups. Loving others was the highest-ranked subdimension in the patient group, followed in descending order by maintaining positive perspective, finding meaning, Reevaluating beliefs and life, asking “why?”, receiving love and spiritual support, preparing for death, and relating to God. In the family group, the corresponding order was maintaining positive perspective, loving others, finding meaning, receiving love and spiritual support, preparing for death, relating to God, and asking “why?”. The factors that had a negative influence on the level of SNs were not being religious in the patient group and having only a middle school level of education in the family group. Conclusion The results of this study may serve as evidence that spiritual care for non-cancer patients’ family caregivers should be considered as an important part of hospice and palliative care.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prognostic value of preoperative serum CA 19-9 levels in colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2011, 4,794 consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for colorectal cancer were analyzed. These patients were classified into 2 groups according to preoperative CA 19-9 (high CA 19-9: ≥37 ng/mL, n = 440; normal CA 19-9: <37 ng/mL, n = 4,354). We used 1:20 propensity score matching to adjust for potential baseline confounders between groups. RESULTS: After matching, 424 patients (10.5%) among 4,021 patients with colorectal cancer showed a high pre-CA 19-9 level (≥37 ng/mL). There were no significant differences between these 2 groups in age, sex, preoperative CEA level, or T, N, and M stage after matching. Of the 424 patients with high pre-CA 19-9, 141 (33.3%) exhibited cancer recurrence more frequently than patients with normal preoperative CA 19-9 (18.5%). Patients with an elevated preoperative CA 19-9 level showed significantly poorer survival than those with normal levels. The 5-year overall survival rate was 79.7% in the high preoperative CA 19-9 group and 91.9% in the normal preoperative CA 19-9 group (P < 0.001). The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 70.2% in the high preoperative CA 19-9 group and 82.7% in the normal preoperative CA 19-9 group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with an elevated preoperative CA 19-9 level in colorectal cancer have a significantly poorer prognosis than those with normal levels of CA 19-9. We therefore suggest preoperative CA 19-9 level can be used as an additional prognostic indicator of poor outcomes in colorectal cancer.
CA-19-9 Antigen ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Propensity Score ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication is known to be effective for reducing the size of gastric hyperplastic polyps (HPPs). This study investigated the change in size of gastric HPPs after H. pylori eradication.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study that enrolled 25 H. pylori-positive patients diagnosed as having HPPs at Korea University Guro Hospital between July 2015 and July 2016. If the patient wanted to receive eradication therapy, medication was given. If the patients refused eradication, only clinical follow-up was performed. All patients were subsequently followed up with endoscopic examination to determine any change in polyp size.RESULTS: Eighteen of the 25 H. pylori-positive patients diagnosed as having HPPs were given an eradication regimen, and 17 were confirmed to have achieved successful eradication. Twelve (70.8%) of the 17 patients in the eradication group showed ≥50% reduction in size, while two (25.0%) of the eight patients in the non-eradication group showed 50% reduction. The polyp regression rate was significantly higher in the eradication group (P=0.03). A multivariate analysis revealed that H. pylori eradication (OR, 40.047; 95% CI, 1.112~1442.767; P=0.044) and female sex (OR, 12.947; 95% CI, 1.038~161.503; P=0.047) were significant predictive factors of HPP regression.CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori eradication is an effective therapeutic modality for gastric HPP regression.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Helicobacter pylori ; Helicobacter ; Humans ; Korea ; Multivariate Analysis ; Polyps ; Prospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms