Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), a cytokine within the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, is involved in various malignancies, withimplications in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Elevated GDF-15 levels are correlated with unfavorable prognosis, tumor progression, and chemotherapy resistance, and the protein has been identified as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for OSCC. Personalized treatment strategies based on GDF-15 expression could improve treatment outcomes.

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), a cytokine within the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, is involved in various malignancies, withimplications in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Elevated GDF-15 levels are correlated with unfavorable prognosis, tumor progression, and chemotherapy resistance, and the protein has been identified as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for OSCC. Personalized treatment strategies based on GDF-15 expression could improve treatment outcomes.

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), a cytokine within the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, is involved in various malignancies, withimplications in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Elevated GDF-15 levels are correlated with unfavorable prognosis, tumor progression, and chemotherapy resistance, and the protein has been identified as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for OSCC. Personalized treatment strategies based on GDF-15 expression could improve treatment outcomes.

Burkitt lymphoma is a highly aggressive type of hematopoietic malignancy that is comparatively common in children and young people. It is important that Burkitt lymphoma be diagnosed as early as possible for prompt intervention due to its rapidly progressive, high-grade malignant nature. Dentists, especially maxillofacial surgeons, can play a life-saving role in patients with such unknown malignancy as the first clinical or radiological manifestation might occur in the oral region.

Background/Aims: The efficacy and safety of mepolizumab in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma has been evaluated in a global clinical trial programme. This post hoc analysis assesses the efficacy and safety of mepolizumab in Korean patients. Methods: Data from Korean patients in the Phase III, placebo-controlled, randomised DREAM (MEA112997/NCT01000506) and MENSA (MEA115588/ NCT01691521) studies were included. Patients ≥ 12 years old with severe eosinophilic asthma received mepolizumab (DREAM: 75, 250 or 750 mg intravenously [IV]; MENSA: 75 mg IV or 100 mg subcutaneously [SC]), or placebo every 4 weeks for 52 weeks (DREAM) or 32 weeks (MENSA). The primary outcome was the rate of clinically significant asthma exacerbations. Secondary outcomes included forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores (MENSA only). Blood eosinophil counts (BEC) and safety were assessed throughout. Results: Reductions in the rate of clinically significant asthma exacerbations were observed with the approved (100 mg SC) and bioequivalent (75 mg IV) doses of mepolizumab in Korean patients who participated in DREAM and MENSA. In MENSA, trends for improvements from baseline at week 32 in pre-bronchodilator FEV1 (75 mg IV group), ACQ-5 and SGRQ scores (in both treatment groups) were seen versus placebo in Korean patients. Incidence of on-treatment adverse events was similar in Korean patients versus non-Korean patients as were observed reductions from baseline in BEC. Conclusions Mepolizumab treatment provided clinical benefits for Korean patients with severe eosinophilic asthma; the safety profile is consistent with the overall population.

Background/Aims: The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), based on transient elastography, is widely used for noninvasive assessment of the degree of hepatic steatosis (HS). We investigated the correlation of the degree HS between CAP and ultrasound (US) in patients with HS. Methods: In total, 986 patients with US-based HS who underwent transient elastography within 1 month were evaluated. The US-based grade of HS was categorized as mild (grade 1), moderate (grade 2), or severe (grade 3). Results: The CAP was significantly correlated with the US-based grade of HS (r = 0.458, p < 0.001). The median CAP value of each US-based HS grade showed a positive correlation with grade (271.1, 303.7, and 326.7 dB/m for grades 1, 2, and 3). In a multivariate analysis, the US-based HS grade, body mass index, serum albumin, alanine aminotransferase, and total cholesterol, and liver stiffness were all significantly correlated with the CAP value (all p < 0.05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for grade 2 to 3 and grade 3 HS were 0.749 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.714 to 0.784) and 0.738 (95% CI, 0.704 to 0.772). The optimal cut-off CAP values to maximize the sum of the sensitivity and specificity for grade 2 to 3 and grade 3 HS were 284.5 dB/m (sensitivity 78.6%, specificity 61.7%) and 298.5 dB/m (sensitivity 84.6%, specificity 55.6%). Conclusions The correlation of the degree of HS between CAP and US was significantly high in patients with HS, and the optimal cut-off CAP values for grade 2 to 3 and grade 3 HS were 284.5 and 298.5 dB/m.

Background/Aims: Liver biopsy (LB) remains the gold standard for the evaluation of liver disease. However, over the past two decades, many noninvasive tests have been developed and utilized in clinical practice as alternatives to LB. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical use and safety of LB in the era of noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis. Methods: This retrospective study included 1,944 consecutive cases of LB performed between 2001 and 2018 in a tertiary hospital. All of the LBs were conducted under ultrasonography guidance with 18-gauge cutting needles. Results: LBs were performed an average of approximately 108 times per year during the study period. Chronic hepatitis B (25.3%) and suspected malignancy (20.5%) were the two most common indications for LB. The use of LB for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increased from 8.1% to 17.2% in the past 5 years compared to the last 10 years, while that for viral hepatitis decreased from 40.3% to 18.9%. Discordance rate between the suspected diagnosis and the final diagnosis was 2.6% (51 cases). The overall rate of major adverse events was 0.05% (one case), which involved delayed bleeding at the biopsy site. Liver cirrhosis was observed in 563 cases (28.9%), and the presence of cirrhosis did not affect the frequency of complications (P=0.289). Conclusions LB is widely used in clinical practice as an irreplaceable diagnostic tool, even in the era of noninvasiveness. Ultrasonography-guided LB can be performed safely in patients with liver cirrhosis.

For a small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver resection shows most favorable outcome in case which liver transplantation is not available, although it has also substantial recurrence rate. Here, we report a case of recurred HCC with multiple intrahepatic metastasis at 5 months after surgical resection for small HCC was done. A 55-year-old man with chronic HBV infection received subsegmentectomy for HCC less than 2 cm. A follow-up computed tomography (CT) at 5 months from operation revealed that there were multiple enhancing nodules in entire remnant liver. Intra-arterial injections of adriamycin mixed lipiodol and gelfoam particles were instituted through hepatic artery. We assume that poorly differentiated cellular feature would be attributable to this kind of very early and aggressive recurrence of HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Doxorubicin ; Ethiodized Oil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Injections, Intra-Arterial ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) plays a pivotal role in the management of drug-resistant chronic hepatitis B. However, it remains unclear whether TDF-nucleoside analogue combination therapy provides better outcomes than TDF monotherapy. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of TDF monotherapy with that of TDF-nucleoside analogue combination therapy in patients with drug-resistant chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 76 patients receiving TDF-based rescue therapy for more than 12 months. Suboptimal response was defined as serum HBV-DNA level of >60 IU/mL during prior rescue therapy. Multi-drug resistance was defined as the presence of two or more drug resistance-related mutations confirmed by mutation detection assay. The relationship between baseline characteristics and virologic response (HBV DNA <20 IU/mL) at 12 months were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients (72.4%) were suboptimal responders to prior rescue therapy, and 26 (34.2%) had multi-drug resistance. Forty-two patients (55.3%) received combination therapy with nucleoside analogues. Virologic response at 12 months was not significantly different between the TDF monotherapy group and TDF-nucleoside analogue combination therapy group (p=0.098). The serum HBV DNA level was reduced to -4.49+/-1.67 log10 IU/mL in the TDF monotherapy group and to -3.97+/-1.69 log10 IU/mL in the TDF-nucleoside analogue combination therapy group at 12 months (p=0.18). In multivariate analysis, female sex (p=0.032), low baseline HBV-DNA level (p=0.013), and TDF monotherapy (p=0.046) were predictive factors for virologic response at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: TDF monotherapy showed similar efficacy to that of TDF-nucleoside analogue combination therapy in patients with drug-resistant chronic hepatitis B.
Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Cohort Studies ; DNA, Viral/blood ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus/drug effects/genetics/isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*drug therapy/virology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nucleosides/chemistry/therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors ; Tenofovir/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Complications by ingested foreign bodies are uncommon, since successful removal by endoscopy occurs in most cases. However, severe complications, such as perforation, can result in death. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with severe complications in patients with esophageal foreign bodies. METHODS: This study involved 298 patients who underwent successful removal of an esophageal foreign body between January 2001 and December 2014 at Dankook University Hospital. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Severe complications were defined as laceration, unstoppable bleeding with simple irrigation, or perforation. Risk factors for severe complications were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The most common foreign bodies in adults and pediatrics were fish bones (52.0%) and coins (61.0%). Complications included erosion, ulcer, laceration, bleeding, and perforation. Using multivariate analysis, the type (fish bone, odds ratio [OR] = 2.306, p = 0.004) and size (> 25 mm, OR = 2.614, p = 0.001) of the obstruction and duration of impaction (> 24 hours, OR = 1.887, p = 0.035) were risk factors for severe complications including laceration, bleeding, and perforation. For perforation, duration of impaction (> 24 hours, OR = 41.700, p = 0.005) was a statistically significant risk factor. In two patients, delayed perforation occurred despite successful endoscopic removal of the foreign body. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with esophageal fish bone foreign bodies, foreign bodies larger than 25 mm, and a duration of impaction longer than 24 hours should be treated carefully considering the possibility of severe complications. Specifically, patients with a duration of impaction longer than 24 hours should be closely observed due to increased risk of perforation and potential delayed perforation even after successful endoscopic removal.
Adult ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Perforation ; Foreign Bodies* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Numismatics ; Odds Ratio ; Pediatrics ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Ulcer