Purpose: Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for CLDN18.2-expressing gastric cancer (GC). We sought to examine the heterogeneity of CLDN18.2 expression between primary GC (PGC) and metastatic GC (MGC) using various scoring methods. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 102 patients with pathologically confirmed paired primary and metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas. CLDN18.2 expression was evaluated through immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples. We assessed CLDN18.2 positivity using multiple scoring approaches, including the immunoreactivity score, H-score, and the percentage of tumor cells showing moderate-to-strong staining intensity. We analyzed the concordance rates between PGC and MGC and the association of CLDN18.2 positivity with clinicopathological features. Results: CLDN18.2 positivity varied from 25% to 65% depending on the scoring method, with PGC consistently showing higher expression levels than MGC. Intratumoral heterogeneity was noted in 25.5% of PGCs and 19.6% of MGCs. Intertumoral heterogeneity, manifesting as discordance in CLDN18.2 positivity between PGC and MGC, was observed in about 20% of cases, with moderate agreement across scoring methods (κ=0.47 to 0.60).In PGC, higher CLDN18.2 positivity correlated with synchronous metastasis, presence of peritoneal metastasis, poorly differentiated grade, and biopsy specimens. In MGC, positivity was associated with synchronous metastasis, presence of peritoneal metastasis, and metastatic peritoneal tissues. Conclusions CLDN18.2 expression demonstrates significant heterogeneity between PGC and MGC, with a 20% discordance rate. Comprehensive tissue sampling and reassessment of CLDN18.2 status are crucial, especially before initiating CLDN18.2-targeted therapies.

Purpose: Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for CLDN18.2-expressing gastric cancer (GC). We sought to examine the heterogeneity of CLDN18.2 expression between primary GC (PGC) and metastatic GC (MGC) using various scoring methods. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 102 patients with pathologically confirmed paired primary and metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas. CLDN18.2 expression was evaluated through immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples. We assessed CLDN18.2 positivity using multiple scoring approaches, including the immunoreactivity score, H-score, and the percentage of tumor cells showing moderate-to-strong staining intensity. We analyzed the concordance rates between PGC and MGC and the association of CLDN18.2 positivity with clinicopathological features. Results: CLDN18.2 positivity varied from 25% to 65% depending on the scoring method, with PGC consistently showing higher expression levels than MGC. Intratumoral heterogeneity was noted in 25.5% of PGCs and 19.6% of MGCs. Intertumoral heterogeneity, manifesting as discordance in CLDN18.2 positivity between PGC and MGC, was observed in about 20% of cases, with moderate agreement across scoring methods (κ=0.47 to 0.60).In PGC, higher CLDN18.2 positivity correlated with synchronous metastasis, presence of peritoneal metastasis, poorly differentiated grade, and biopsy specimens. In MGC, positivity was associated with synchronous metastasis, presence of peritoneal metastasis, and metastatic peritoneal tissues. Conclusions CLDN18.2 expression demonstrates significant heterogeneity between PGC and MGC, with a 20% discordance rate. Comprehensive tissue sampling and reassessment of CLDN18.2 status are crucial, especially before initiating CLDN18.2-targeted therapies.

Purpose: Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for CLDN18.2-expressing gastric cancer (GC). We sought to examine the heterogeneity of CLDN18.2 expression between primary GC (PGC) and metastatic GC (MGC) using various scoring methods. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 102 patients with pathologically confirmed paired primary and metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas. CLDN18.2 expression was evaluated through immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples. We assessed CLDN18.2 positivity using multiple scoring approaches, including the immunoreactivity score, H-score, and the percentage of tumor cells showing moderate-to-strong staining intensity. We analyzed the concordance rates between PGC and MGC and the association of CLDN18.2 positivity with clinicopathological features. Results: CLDN18.2 positivity varied from 25% to 65% depending on the scoring method, with PGC consistently showing higher expression levels than MGC. Intratumoral heterogeneity was noted in 25.5% of PGCs and 19.6% of MGCs. Intertumoral heterogeneity, manifesting as discordance in CLDN18.2 positivity between PGC and MGC, was observed in about 20% of cases, with moderate agreement across scoring methods (κ=0.47 to 0.60).In PGC, higher CLDN18.2 positivity correlated with synchronous metastasis, presence of peritoneal metastasis, poorly differentiated grade, and biopsy specimens. In MGC, positivity was associated with synchronous metastasis, presence of peritoneal metastasis, and metastatic peritoneal tissues. Conclusions CLDN18.2 expression demonstrates significant heterogeneity between PGC and MGC, with a 20% discordance rate. Comprehensive tissue sampling and reassessment of CLDN18.2 status are crucial, especially before initiating CLDN18.2-targeted therapies.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have examined the association between alcohol consumption and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adults, but studies in the elderly are lacking. We examined the relationship between high-risk alcohol consumption and MetS in elderly Korean men using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire from the 2010–2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. METHODS: Among 25,534 subjects, 2,807 were men >60 years of age; after exclusions, we included 2,088 men in the final analysis. We categorized the study participants into three groups according to AUDIT score: low risk (0–7), intermediate risk (8–14), and high risk (≥15 points). RESULTS: Among the study population, 17.0% of the men were high-risk drinkers, who had the highest mean waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and triglyceride (TG) levels. The overall prevalence of MetS was 41.9% in the elderly men, and it was significantly higher in the group with high (48.3%) versus low (31.9%) AUDIT scores. The prevalence of MetS components (elevated BP, high FPG, high TG, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) was associated with a high AUDIT score. The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of the high-risk group for MetS, elevated BP, and high TG were 1.40 (1.03–1.89), 1.82 (1.28–2.60), and 1.77 (1.30–2.41) after adjustment for confounding variables. CONCLUSION: AUDIT score was correlated with most MetS components in elderly Korean men.
Adult ; Aged* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drinking* ; Fasting ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference

BACKGROUND: Prescription of inappropriate medicine to elderly patients is a major public health care concern. The Beers criteria have been commonly employed as a screening tool to identify the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). The present study investigated the prevalence of PIM use according to the Beers criteria as well as factors related to PIM use. METHODS: Data obtained from a retrospective survey included 25,810 outpatients aged ≥65 years from a university medical center in Seoul, Korea. PIMs were defined using the Beers criteria. Factors associated with PIM use were evaluated using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Of all participants, 7,132 (27.6%) were prescribed at least one PIM. The most commonly prescribed PIMs were alprazolam (11.2%), clonazepam (10.8%), zolpidem (8.7%), quetiapine (8.4%), and hydroxyzine (5.4%). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, having five or more prescription medicines (odds ratio [OR], 11.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.38 to 13.66) and five or more prescribing doctors (OR, 4.40; 95% CI, 3.59 to 5.39) were strongly associated with PIM. In a likelihood ratio test for trend, an increasing number of medications and prescribing doctors were both significantly associated with PIM. CONCLUSION: At a university medical center, the number of medications and the number of prescribing doctors was associated with PIM in older outpatients.
Academic Medical Centers ; Aged ; Alprazolam ; Beer* ; Clonazepam ; Humans ; Hydroxyzine ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Outpatients* ; Potentially Inappropriate Medication List* ; Prescriptions ; Prevalence* ; Public Health ; Quetiapine Fumarate ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Prescription of inappropriate medicine to elderly patients is a major public health care concern. The Beers criteria have been commonly employed as a screening tool to identify the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). The present study investigated the prevalence of PIM use according to the Beers criteria as well as factors related to PIM use. METHODS: Data obtained from a retrospective survey included 25,810 outpatients aged ≥65 years from a university medical center in Seoul, Korea. PIMs were defined using the Beers criteria. Factors associated with PIM use were evaluated using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Of all participants, 7,132 (27.6%) were prescribed at least one PIM. The most commonly prescribed PIMs were alprazolam (11.2%), clonazepam (10.8%), zolpidem (8.7%), quetiapine (8.4%), and hydroxyzine (5.4%). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, having five or more prescription medicines (odds ratio [OR], 11.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.38 to 13.66) and five or more prescribing doctors (OR, 4.40; 95% CI, 3.59 to 5.39) were strongly associated with PIM. In a likelihood ratio test for trend, an increasing number of medications and prescribing doctors were both significantly associated with PIM. CONCLUSION: At a university medical center, the number of medications and the number of prescribing doctors was associated with PIM in older outpatients.
Academic Medical Centers ; Aged ; Alprazolam ; Beer* ; Clonazepam ; Humans ; Hydroxyzine ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Outpatients* ; Potentially Inappropriate Medication List* ; Prescriptions ; Prevalence* ; Public Health ; Quetiapine Fumarate ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Seoul

No abstract available.
Bowen's Disease* ; Carcinoma, Merkel Cell*

Leuconostoc species are gram-positive cocci and they are rarely pathogenic in human. Leuconostoc infections are commonly associated with immunocompromised status and indwelling medical devices include intravenous catheter, tracheostomy, endotracheal intubation and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Clinical isolates of Leuconostoc were frequently misidentified, usually as viridans streptococci, but they possess inherent resistance to vancomycin despite sensitivity to most other antibiotics. We present a case of Leuconostoc peritonitis in patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). A 48-year-old man with hypertensive nephropathy has been treated with peritoneal dialysis, developed peritonitis due to Leuconostoc species. The peritonitis was poorly responded to empirical antibiotics. He was successfully treated with intraperitoneal administration of ampicillin. The dialysis catheter was left in place, and continued to function. To our knowledge, this is the first case of Leuconostoc peritonitis reported in Korea.
Ampicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheters ; Dialysis ; Gastrostomy ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Korea ; Leuconostoc* ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis* ; Tracheostomy ; Vancomycin ; Viridans Streptococci

PURPOSE: Adjacent segment disease (ASD) is major complication following spinal instrumentation and fusion. The purpose of the current study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of proximal ASD following posterior instrumentation and fusion for degenerative lumbar scoliosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two patients (mean age 64.8 years) who had undergone decompression and fusion with pedicle screw instrumentation were evaluated. The average follow-up was 4.7 years. Twenty-five patients had additional interbody fusion at the lower lumbar spine. The average number of levels fused was 5.1 segments (range 1-9). The upper instrumented vertebrae ranged from T9 to L4. The lower instrumented vertebrae were L5 and S1. RESULTS: Proximal ASD developed in 17 (24%) of 72 patients, including compression fractures (n=6), junctional kyphosis (n=5), spinal stenosis (n=4), and symptomatic disc collapse (n=2). The preoperative scoliotic angle, lumbar lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, and coronal and sagittal C7 plumb were not associated with the development of proximal ASD. There was a close correlation between the level of the upper instrumented vertebrae and the development of ASD (p=0.001). When fusion did not extend beyond the lumbar vertebra, ASD occurred in 15 (38.5%) of 39 patients. In contrast, when fusion extended up to the thoracic vertebrae, ASD occurred in 2 (6.1%) of 33 patients. The improvement in the Oswestry score was superior to the group without ASD (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of symptomatic ASD at the proximal segment was 24% after posterior instrumentation and fusion for degenerative lumbar scoliosis. The cephalad extent of fusion was the most significant risk factor for the development of proximal ASD.
Animals ; Decompression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Lordosis ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine ; Thoracic Vertebrae

PURPOSE: We wanted to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of overactive bladder(OAB) in Korean children who were 5-13 years of age, according to the definition of OAB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomly selected cross-sectional study was conducted on 26 kindergartens and 27 elementary schools nationwide in Korea. There were 19,240 children; a parent was asked to complete the questionnaires, which included items about OAB and the children's voiding and defecating habits. OAB was defined as urgency with or without urge incontinence, and usually with an increased daytime frequency and nocturia(ICCS 2006, group A) or an increased daytime frequency(>8 times/day) and/or urge urinary incontinence with or without urgency (group B); its prevalence and associated factors were investigated. RESULTS: The response rate for the questionnaires was 85.84%. The overall prevalence of OAB was 16.59%(group A) and 18.79%(group B). For groups A and B, the prevalence of OAB decreased with age from 22.89% to 12.16% and from 40.44% to 9.60%, respectively(p=0.0001). The overall rate of wet and dry OAB was 26.97% and 73.03%, respectively. Compared to the normal group, the children with OAB had a higher prevalence of nocturnal enuresis(NE), constipation, fecal incontinence, a history of urinary tract infection and delayed bladder control in both groups A and B(p<0.05). The rate of increased daytime frequency and urge incontinence were 3.69% and 2.31%(p=0.009), and 26.97% and 14.78%(p=0.0001) in group A and for the non-OAB children, respectively; their prevalence in group A decreased with age from 5.04% to 3.06% and from 45.74% to 18.50%, respectively(p=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of OAB in group A for Korean children 5-13 years of age was similar to that in group B. However, the range of prevalence in group B was much more variable than that in group A. NE, constipation, fecal incontinence, a history of urinary tract infection and delayed bladder control may be risk factors for OAB in children.
Child ; Constipation ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fecal Incontinence ; Humans ; Korea ; Parents ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; Urinary Incontinence ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge ; Urinary Tract Infections