Purpose: This prospective, single-center, open-label, therapeutic confirmatory, randomized clinical trial aimed to assess the alleviation of anal pain by applying structured anal skin care including skin protectants in rectal cancer patients with low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) combined with anal pain. Methods: From December 2017 to May 2020, 42 patients with LARS (scores of ≥21) and anal pain (visual analogue scale [VAS] score of ≥3) were randomly assigned and observed for 4 weeks. The conventional treatment consisted of dietary management, sitz baths, prohibition of anal scrubbing, loperamide, and dioctahedral smectite. In the anal care group, cleanser, barrier cream, and barrier spray were applied to the anal skin after defecation following the conventional treatment. The primary outcome was analgesic effect on anal pain after 2 weeks of structured treatment (anal care group) or conventional (control group). The cutoff for analgesic effect was a decrease in the anal pain score (VAS score of ≥2 or ≥30% reduction). Results: As a primary outcome, the analgesic effect was significantly higher in the anal care group (P = 0.034). The incontinence-associated dermatitis skin condition score was significantly improved in the anal care group than control group after 4 weeks (P = 0.023). There were no significant differences in LARS scores and quality of life scores between 2 groups. Conclusion Structured anal skin care has a significant analgesic effect in reducing anal pain and improving anal skin conditions in patients with LARS after rectal cancer surgery.

The original version of this article contained wrong informations of some authors which should be changed.

BACKGROUND: There are few published studies on the relationship between occupational lumbar load and facet joint degeneration (FJD). This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the effect of physical lumbar load on FJD by comparing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of firefighters (FFs) and hospital office workers (HOWs). METHODS: We randomly sampled 341 male FFs and 80 male HOWs by age stratification. A questionnaire and clinical examination, including MRI of the lumbar spine (T12-S1), were conducted. FJD was diagnosed and graded by using the classification of Pathria et al., and reclassified into two groups as follows: no FJD (grade 0) and FJD (grades 1, 2, and 3). The prevalence of FJD was analyzed according to occupational group. RESULTS: The prevalence of FJD ranged from 31% (L1–L2) to 75% (L4–L5) in the FFs, and from 18% (L1–L2) to 69% (L4–L5) in the HOWs. After adjustment for age, body mass index, and frequency of physical exercise, the adjusted odds ratios (OR) for FJD in the FFs were significantly higher than those in the HOWs at all lumbar spinal levels, except for L3–L4 (L1–L2: OR, 2.644; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.317–5.310; L2–L3: OR, 2.285; 95% CI, 1.304–4.006; L4–L5: OR, 1.918; 95% CI, 1.037–3.544; L5–S1: OR, 1.811; 95% CI, 1.031–3.181). CONCLUSION: This study shows that FFs exhibit a greater likelihood of having FJD than HOWs after controlling for other risk factors of FJD. This suggests that the physical occupational demands of FFs affect their risk of developing FJD.
Body Mass Index ; Classification ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Exercise ; Firefighters* ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Occupational Groups ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Spine ; Zygapophyseal Joint*

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Nonmotor symptoms (NMS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) have multisystem origins with heterogeneous manifestations that develop throughout the course of PD. NMS are increasingly recognized as having a significant impact on the health-related quality of life (HrQoL). We aimed to determine the NMS presentation according to PD status, and the associations of NMS with other clinical variables and the HrQoL of Korean PD patients. METHODS: We surveyed patients in 37 movement-disorders clinics throughout Korea. In total, 323 PD patients were recruited for assessment of disease severity and duration, NMS, HrQoL, and other clinical variables including demographics, cognition, sleep scale, fatigability, and symptoms. RESULTS: In total, 98.1% of enrolled PD subjects suffered from various kinds of NMS. The prevalence of NMS and scores in each NMS domain were significantly higher in the PD group, and the NMS worsened as the disease progressed. Among clinical variables, disease duration and depressive mood showed significant correlations with all NMS domains (p<0.001). NMS status impacted HrQoL in PD (rS=0.329, p<0.01), and the association patterns differed with the disease stage. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our survey suggest that NMS in PD are not simply isolated symptoms of degenerative disease, but rather exert significant influences throughout the disease course. A novel clinical approach focused on NMS to develop tailored management strategies is warranted to improve the HrQoL in PD patients.
Cognition ; Demography ; Humans ; Korea ; Movement Disorders* ; Parkinson Disease* ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life*

Perineuriomas are composed of differentiated perineurial cells. Perineuriomas have been recently recognized by the immunoreactivity for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). Microscopically, perineuriomas show proliferation of spindle cells with wavy nuclei and delicate elongated bipolar cytoplasmic processes. The tumor cells are usually negative for the S-100 protein. Ultrastructurally, perineurial cells reveal slender, nontapered processes containing pinocytic vesicles and discontinuous basal lamina. Interestingly, hybrid tumors of benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST) have been recently reported by using immunohistochemical and ultrastructural investigations. Herein, we report a case of soft tissue perineurioma arising in the skin of a 56-year-old female; another case of a hybrid tumor of perineurioma and schwannoma in the posterior mediastinum occurred in a 53-year-old male, which is the first case of the hybrid PNST tumor reported in Korea.
Basement Membrane ; Chimera ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; Neurilemmoma ; Peripheral Nerves ; S100 Proteins ; Skin

Primary tumors of the great vessels are rare. Most encountered cases are sarcomas which most commonly develop in the aorta, pulmonary artery, and inferior vena cava. We experienced an intimal sarcoma arising in the left common iliac artery in a 68-year-old male, who suffered from claudication in his left lower extremity for a year and was diagnosed as arteriosclerosis obliterans, clinically. Bypass surgery was performed on the obstructive lesion. Grossly, the vascular lumen was filled with dark hemorrhagic materials. Microscopically, the lesion showed proliferation of anaplastic spindle cells with a marked nuclear atypia, arranged haphazardly. There were numerous mitotic figures. Foci of cholesterol clefts were also found in the intima. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for vimentin, smooth muscle actin, and cytokeratin in certain areas. Stains for CD34, desmin, myosin heavy chain, caldesmon, and S-100 protein were negative. A pathologic diagnosis was made as intimal sarcoma with myofibroblastic differentiation.
Actins ; Aged ; Aorta ; Arteriosclerosis Obliterans ; Calmodulin-Binding Proteins ; Cholesterol ; Coloring Agents ; Desmin ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Keratins ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myofibroblasts ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; Pulmonary Artery ; S100 Proteins ; Sarcoma ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; Vimentin

BACKGROUND: Pathologic examination is a very important diagnostic procedure. It is the most important method to decide the therapeutic plan and to predict the prognosis of cancer patients. The Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) is a schema used to determine how much money medical providers should be paid. In Korea, a modified RBRVS has been used since the year 2000. METHODS: We researched the July 2010 RBRVS for Korea and the US medicare. The individual Relative Evaluation Index (REI) is defined as the ratio of an individual RBRVS to the mean RBRVS. The REIs of pathologic examination in Korea and America were compared. RESULTS: For an endoscopic biopsy specimen, the pathologic examination REI in Korea was 55.4% of the American REI. The Korean REI of a prostate biopsy (8 sites) was only 5.7% of the American REI. The Korean REI was 28.1% of the American REI for the hysterectomy for uterine myoma, and the Korean REI was 67.6% of the American REI for resection of stomach or colon cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The RBRVS of pathologic examination in Korea remains undervalued. Considering the importance of pathologic examination in medicine, the RBRVS in Korea should be increased.
Americas ; Biopsy ; Colon ; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Korea ; Medicare ; Myoma ; Pathology, Surgical ; Prognosis ; Prostate ; Relative Value Scales ; Stomach ; United States

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate postnatal growth and examine the longitudinal change of leptin, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), adiponectin, and ghrelin in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. METHODS: Weight, height, and head circumference (HC) were prospectively measured at birth, full term, and at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 months of corrected age (CA) in 91 VLBW infants (41 females and 50 males). They were evaluated as either being small for gestational age (SGA) or appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Blood samples were serially taken for IGF-I, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin. RESULTS: 1) Weight, height, and HC Z scores decreased from birth to 2 months of CA at a deeper rate for AGA and birth weight < 1,000 g than for SGA and < 1,000 g birth weight < 1,500 g infants. 2) Weight, height, and HC Z scores increased from 2 months to 24 months of CA for the whole population. 3) 25.0% in the SGA and 5.4% in the AGA group did not show weight catch up growth (< -2 SDS) at 1 year of age (P < 0.05). 4) At 12 months of CA, 16.7% in the SGA and 13% in the AGA group did not show height catch up growth. 5) Leptin, ghrelin, IGF-I concentrations increased during the first 2 years of life in VLBW. 6) 1 year weight Z score is related to term weight Z score (beta = 0.775, P = 0.001). One year height Z score is related to term weight Z score. (beta = 0.632, P = 0.000) CONCLUSION: Rapid catch up growth occurred mainly during the first year of life, irrespective of SGA or AGA. Leptin, ghrelin, and IGF-I concentration increased during the first 2 years of life in VLBW. Rapid catch up growth is thus required to give rapid and enough nutrition after birth in VLBW.
Adiponectin ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Ghrelin ; Head ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Leptin ; Parturition ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Mucin (MUC)1 and MUC4 (MUC1, 4) are high molecular weight glycoproteins expressed in normal and malignant epithelial cells, and these expressions are related to the prognosis of some carcinomas. In non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), the relationship between MUC1, 4 expressions and their prognostic significance is not well known. We evaluated these relationships in a series of NSCLC: 1) between MUC1, 4 expression levels and histologic subtypes, and 2) between high expression of MUC1, 4 and their prognostic significance. METHODS: We performed immunohistochemical staining for MUC1, 4 in paraffin-embedded tissues from 165 NSCLC cases arranged in a tissue microarray. RESULTS: We found a significant correlation between MUC1, 4 expressions and NSCLC histologic subtypes (p < 0.05). High MUC1 expression was characteristic of adenocarcinoma. Low MUC1, 4 expressions were characteristic of squamous cell carcinoma. In adenocarcinoma, we found significant association between diffuse MUC1 expression and short patient survival (p = 0.005). In squamous cell carcinoma, diffuse MUC4 expression showed long patient survival trend (p = 0.128). CONCLUSIONS: MUC1, 4 expression levels were significantly correlated with NSCLC histologic subtypes. Diffuse MUC1 expression was significantly associated with shortened survival in NSCLC patients, especially in adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Epithelial Cells ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Lung ; Molecular Weight ; Mucin-1 ; Mucin-4 ; Mucins ; Prognosis

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that serum Cystatin C is both a sensitive marker for renal dysfunction and a predictive marker for cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to evaluate the association between Cystatin C and various biomarkers and to find out its utility in estimating risk for cardiovascular diseases in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: From June 2006 to March 2008, anthropometric measurements and biochemical studies including biomarkers for risk factors of cardiovascular diseases were done in 520 type 2 diabetic patients. A 10-year risk for coronary heart diseases and stroke was estimated using Framingham risk score and UKPDS risk engine. RESULTS: The independent variables showing statistically significant associations with Cystatin C were age (beta = 0.009, P < 0.0001), hemoglobin (beta = -0.038, P = 0.0006), serum creatinine (beta = 0.719, beta < 0.0001), uric acid (beta = 0.048, P = 0.0004), log hsCRP (beta = 0.035, P = 0.0021) and homocysteine (beta = 0.005, P = 0.0228). The levels of microalbuminuria, carotid intima-media thickness, fibrinogen and lipoprotein (a) also correlated with Cystatin C, although the significance was lost after multivariate adjustment. Calculated risk for coronary heart diseases increased in proportion to Cystatin C quartiles: 3.3 +/- 0.4, 6.2 +/- 0.6, 7.6 +/- 0.7, 8.4 +/- 0.7% from Framingham risk score (P < 0.0001); 13.1 +/- 0.9, 21.2 +/- 1.6, 26.1 +/- 1.7, 35.4 +/- 2.0% from UKPDS risk engine (P < 0.0001) (means +/- SE). CONCLUSIONS: Cystatin C is significantly correlated with various emerging biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases. It was also in accordance with the calculated risk for cardiovascular diseases. These findings verify Cystatin C as a valuable and useful marker for predicting future cardiovascular diseases in type 2 diabetic patients.
Biomarkers ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Coronary Disease ; Creatinine ; Cystatin C ; Fibrinogen ; Hemoglobins ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Lipoprotein(a) ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Uric Acid