Purpose: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the prognostic value of AFP levels in patients who achieved complete response (CR) to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for HCC. Materials and Methods: Between 2005 and 2018, 890 patients with HCC who achieved a CR to TACE were recruited. An AFP responder was defined as a patient who showed elevated levels of AFP (>10 ng/mL) during TACE, but showed normalization or a >50% reduction in AFP levels after achieving a CR. Results: Among the recruited patients, 569 (63.9%) with naïve HCC and 321 (36.1%) with recurrent HCC after complete resection were treated. Before TACE, 305 (34.3%) patients had multiple tumors, 219 (24.6%) had a maximal tumor size >3 cm, and 22 (2.5%) had portal vein tumor thrombosis. The median AFP level after achieving a CR was 6.36 ng/mL. After a CR, 473 (53.1%) patients experienced recurrence, and 417 (46.9%) died [median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 16.3 and 62.8 months, respectively]. High AFP levels at CR (>20 ng/mL) were independently associated with a shorter PFS [hazard ratio (HR)=1.403] and OS (HR=1.284), together with tumor multiplicity at TACE (HR=1.518 and 1.666, respectively). AFP non-responders at CR (76.2%, n=359 of 471) showed a shorter PFS (median 10.5 months vs. 15.5 months, HR=1.375) and OS (median 41.4 months vs. 61.8 months, HR=1.424) than AFP responders (all p=0.001). Conclusion High AFP levels and AFP non-responders were independently associated with poor outcomes after TACE. AFP holds clinical implications for detailed risk stratification upon achieving a CR after TACE.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the improvement of pain and the increase in mouth opening after temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis and the possible association with various factors such as previous splint treatment, medication, and diagnosis. RESULTS: We studied 57 temporomandibular joint disorder patients who underwent arthrocentesis at Korea University Anam Hospital. These patients (24 males and 33 females, aged between 15 and 76 years) underwent arthrocentesis that was performed by one surgeon. The degree of mouth opening (assessed using the maximum mouth opening: MMO) and pain (assessed using the visual analog scale: VAS) were assessed pre- and post-arthrocentesis. The study also investigated whether treatment modalities other than arthrocentesis (medication and appliance therapy) were performed. Statistical analysis revealed that there was a significant difference in mouth opening and pain after temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis. Preoperative appliance therapy affected the results of arthrocentesis, but it was not statistically significant. With regard to pain relief, preoperative diagnosis did not show a significant difference. However, with regard to maximum mouth opening, patients with disc displacement without reduction with limited mouth opening (closed lock) showed the highest recovery (11.13 mm). CONCLUSION The average of MMO increase after arthrocentesis was 9.10 mm, and patients with disc displacement without reduction with locking (closed lock) showed most recovery in maximum mouth opening and it was statistically significant. The average pain relief of patients after arthrocentesis was 3.03 in the VAS scale, and patients using anterior repositioning splint (ARS) preoperatively showed the most pain relief.

BACKGROUND: Conventionally, indirect radiography has been used to diagnose salivary gland diseases. However, with the development of sialendoscopy, diagnosis and treatment of salivary gland diseases have become more effective. Herein, we report a case of sialolithotomy treated with sialendoscopy and compare it with the existing methods through a literature review.CASE PRESENTATION: Two patients with a foreign body sensation under the tongue and dry mouth visited the Anam Hospital, Korea University. Radiographic examination revealed salivary stones inside the right Wharton duct, and the patients underwent sialolithotomy under local or general anaesthesia. The stones were totally removed, and there were no postoperative complications such as bleeding or pain. CONCLUSION The development of sialendoscopy has enabled better definitive diagnosis of salivary gland diseases compared with the conventional methods; better treatment outcomes can be obtained when sialendoscopy is used in appropriate cases.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) and to elucidate factors affecting recurrence in surgical treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 51 patients who were diagnosed with MRONJ were analyzed according to demographic and clinical features and treatment results through a retrospective chart review from 2013 to 2017 in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul in Korea. RESULTS: Alendronate composed the majority of medication doses (55.6%), followed by ibandronate (20.0%), risedronate (15.6%), and zoledronate (6.7%). Forty patients (88.9%) were given oral medication, and five patients (11.1%) were intravenously treated, and the mean duration of medication use was 61.1±42.9 months. A total of 10 patients (22.2%) had a drug holiday before MRONJ-induced dental treatment lasting an average of 6.8±7.0 months. MRONJ occurred 2.7 times more in the mandible, with 41 cases (73.2%) occurring in the mandible and 15 cases (26.8%) occurring in the maxilla, and the prevalence of affected posterior parts (premolar-molar) was six times greater than that of the anterior parts (incisor-canine) (48 cases vs 8 cases, 85.7% vs 14.3%). The most common dental cause of MRONJ was tooth extraction (69.6%). Regarding recurrence, there was no statistical difference in recurrence rate according to either site or stage. However, recurrence occurred in 4 out of 34 cases (11.8%) in the primary closure group and 9 out of 20 cases (45.0%) in the secondary healing group, and there was a statistical difference with respect to closure technique. CONCLUSION: The identified risk factors in patients taking bone resorption inhibitors can aid dental clinicians in ensuring prevention and proper treatment of MRONJ.
Alendronate ; Bone Density Conservation Agents ; Holidays ; Humans ; Jaw* ; Korea ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Osteonecrosis* ; Prevalence ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risedronate Sodium ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Surgery, Oral ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Tooth Extraction

This correction is being published to provide the approval number of the Institutional Review Board at the Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate section in the above article. The authors apologize for this error.

Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome reflects a serious hypersensitivity reaction to drugs, characterized by skin rash, fever, lymph node enlargement, and internal organ involvement. So far, numerous drugs such as sulfonamides, phenobarbital, sulfasalazine, carbamazepine, and phenytoin have been reported to cause the DRESS syndrome. We report a case in a 29-yr-old female patient who had been on celecoxib and anti-tuberculosis drugs for one month to treat knee joint pain and pulmonary tuberculosis. Our patient's clinical manifestations included fever, lymphadenopathy, rash, hypereosinophilia, and visceral involvement (hepatitis and pneumonitis). During the corticosteroid administration for DRESS syndrome, swallowing difficulty with profound muscle weakness had developed. Our patient was diagnosed as DRESS syndrome with eosinophilic polymyositis by a histopathologic study. After complete resolution of all symptoms, patch tests were positive for both celecoxib and ethambutol. Although further investigations might be needed to confirm the causality, celecoxib and ethambutol can be added to the list of drugs as having the possibility of DRESS syndrome.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/adverse effects ; Antitubercular Agents/adverse effects ; Arthritis/complications/*drug therapy ; Drug Eruptions/*etiology/pathology ; Eosinophilia/*chemically induced/pathology ; Ethambutol/*adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Myositis/chemically induced/pathology ; Pyrazoles/*adverse effects ; Sulfonamides/*adverse effects ; Syndrome ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/complications/*drug therapy

BACKGROUND: Both Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) cagA, vacA, iceA genotype and host IL-1B/IL-1RN polymorphisms play a role in determining the clinical consequences of H. pylori infection. This study aimed to investigate whether there might be any combinations of H. pylori cagA, vacA, iceA genotype and host IL-1B/IL-1RN polymorphisms that are particularly associated with the occurrence of gastric carcinoma in Korean patients. METHODS: This study population was comprised of 239 patients with H. pylori infection: 122 with gastric carcinoma and 117 with gastritis only. DNA was isolated from gastric biopsy sample and H. pylori cagA, vacA and iceA genotype were determined by PCR. IL-1B-511 polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR-RFLP and IL-1RN polymorphisms were analyzed with variable number of tandom repeat after PCR. RESULTS: H. pylori cagA, vacA, and iceA genotype were not associated with an increased risk for gastric carcinoma. IL-1B-511*T carriers and IL-1RN*2 carriers did not show increased risk for gastric carcinoma. On combination of bacterial/host genotypes, cagA+/IL-1B-511*T carriers and cagA+/IL-1RN*2 carriers, vacA s1/IL-1B-511*T carriers, vacA s1/IL-1RN*2 carriers, vacA m1/IL-1B-511*T carriers, vacA m1/IL-1RN*2 carriers, iceA1/IL-1B-511*T carriers, iceA1/IL-1RN*2 carriers showed no increased risk of gastric carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Combined H. pylori cagA, vacA, iceA genotype and host IL-1B/IL-1RN polymorphisms shows no increased risk of gastric carcinoma. Therefore, it seems other endogenous or exogenous factors may play more important role in the development of gastric carcinoma in Korean.
Biopsy ; DNA ; Gastritis ; Genotype ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Interleukin-1* ; Interleukin-1beta* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms

Rectal schwannoma is a rare mesenchymal tumor originating from Schwann's cell. We experienced a 61- year-old female patient who complained of blood tinged and narrow calibered stool for several years, and found a 4 cm sized submucosal tumor with a central ulcer on the rectal wall during colonoscopy. She underwent transanal excision. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of fasciculating bundles of spindle cells with benign nuclear atypia and peripheral lymphoid cell cuffing. Tumor cells showed a diffuse strong immunoreactivity to S-100 protein, but not stain for CD 34, desmin and smooth muscle actin. This is the first case report of rectal schwannoma in Korea.
Colonoscopy ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Rectal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Rectum ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tumor Markers, Biological/analysis

BACKGROUND: It is well known that both gastric and intestinal phenotypic cell markers are expressed in gastric cancers. This study was aimed at investigating the correlation between gastric and intestinal phenotypic marker expression patterns of tumors and the clinicopathologic characteristics of gastric carcinomas. METHODS: We evaluated phenotypic marker expression by immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibodies. All tumors were classified as gastric (G), gastric and intestinal mixed (GI), intestinal (I), or null (N) phenotype. RESULTS: The tumors were phenotypically divided into G-phenotype tumors (33.2%), GI-phenotype tumors (25.7%), I-phenotype tumors (26.8%), and N-phenotype tumors (14.3%). N-phenotype tumors were associated with more corporeal location than GI- and I-phenotype tumors (p=0.009 and p=0.007, respectively), a larger size than I-phenotype tumors (p=0.007), a higher proportion of advanced gastric cancers than G-, GI-, and I-phenotype tumors (p=0.003, p< 0.001, and p< 0.001, respectively), more perineural invasion than G-, GI-, and I-phenotype tumors (p=0.076, p=0.003, and p=0.003, respectively), and more lymph node metastasis than GI-phenotype tumors (p=0.017). I-phenotype tumors were associated with a higher proportion of intestinal-type tumors than G-, GI-, and N-phenotype tumors (p< 0.001, p=0.011, and p< 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the gastric and intestinal phenotypic marker expression pattern of tumors is prognostically useful for patients with gastric carcinoma.
Tumor Markers, Biological/genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms/genetics/immunology/*pathology ; Prognosis ; *Phenotype ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Intestinal Neoplasms/genetics/immunology/*pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Humans ; Female ; Carcinoma/genetics/immunology/*pathology ; Antibodies, Neoplasm ; Antibodies, Monoclonal

Choledocholithiasis caused by a foreign body is rare. The most common type of foreign body in the common bile duct is a residual object from previous surgery such as a metal clip or suture material. Foreign body may enter the biliary system after choledochointestinal anastomosis or endoscopic sphincterotomy. Rarely, penetrating missile fragment or gunshot shrapnel account for another type of foreign body. We experienced a case of common bile duct (CBD) stone caused by foreign meterial in 75-years-old women who had a plant foreign body in the common bile duct. She had no past history of abdominal surgery or penetrating trauma. The foreign body and stone were successfully extracted with Dormia basket after the endoscopic sphincterotomy.
Adenoma* ; Ampulla of Vater* ; Biliary Tract ; Choledocholithiasis ; Common Bile Duct* ; Female ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Plants ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Sutures