Busulfan, Melphalan, and Etoposide (BuME) Showed an Equivalent Effect to Busulfan, Cyclophosphamide, and Etoposide (BuCE) as Conditioning Therapy for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Relapsed or High-Risk Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: A Multicenter Randomized Phase II Study bythe Consortium for Improving Survival of Lymphoma (CISL) / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is the standard management for relapsed or high-risk non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). We reported the busulfan, melphalan, and etoposide (BuME) conditioning regimen was effective in patients with relapsed or high-risk NHL. Moreover, the busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide (BuCE) conditioning regimen has been used widely in ASCT for NHL. Therefore, based on these encouraging results, this randomized phase II multicenter trial compared the outcomes of BuME and BuCE as conditioning therapies for ASCT in patients with NHL. @*Materials and Methods@#Patients were randomly assigned to receive either BuME (n=36) or BuCE (n=39). The BuME regimen was comprised of busulfan (3.2 mg/kg/day, intravenously) administered on days –7, –6, and –5, etoposide (400 mg/m2 intravenously) on days –5 and –4, and melphalan (50 mg/m2/day intravenously) on days –3 and –2. The BuCE regimen was comprised of busulfan (3.2 mg/kg/day intravenously) on days –7, –6, and –5, etoposide (400 mg/m2/day intravenously) on days –5 and –4, and cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg/day intravenously) on days –3 and –2. The primary endpoint was 2-year progression-free survival (PFS). @*Results@#Seventy-five patients were enrolled. Eleven patients (30.5%) in the BuME group and 13 patients (33.3%) in the BuCE group had disease progression or died. The 2-year PFS rate was 65.4% in the BuME group and 60.6% in the BuCE group (p=0.746). There were no non-relapse mortalities within 100 days after transplantation. @*Conclusion@#There were no significant differences in PFS between the two groups. Therefore, busulfan-based conditioning regimens, BuME and BuCE, may be important treatment substitutes for the BCNU-containing regimens.

Complication Analysis in Korean Patients With Hemophilia A From 2007 to 2019: A Nationwide Study by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Database

Background@#There has been remarkable progress in hemophilia A (HA) treatment in Korea.Viral inactivation products were developed in 1989, use of recombinant factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates started in 2002, and prophylaxis expanded thereafter. This study was conducted to identify the changes in complications in HA before and after 1989 or 2002. @*Methods@#The study was performed using the 2007–2019 Healthcare Big Data Hub of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. @*Results@#Among 2,557 patients, 1,084 had ≥ 1 complication; 829 had joint problems, 328 had viral infections, 146 had neurologic sequelae, and 87 underwent 113 surgeries or procedures due to complications. Patients born after 1989 had a significantly lower risk of viral infections than those born before 1989; 27.1% vs. 1.4% (P 10 years to expand prophylaxis widely. Neurologic sequelae have not decreased; thus, additional efforts to decrease intracranial hemorrhage are needed. We suggest personalized dosing of FVIII and more meticulous care during childbirth to further reduce the complications.

Long-Term Changes in the Mortality Rates of Thyroid Cancer in Korea: Analysis of Korean National Data from 1985 to 2020

Background@#Thyroid cancer mortality has been largely overlooked as relatively stable given the large gap between thyroid cancer incidence and mortality. This study evaluated long-term trends in age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) throughout Korea and compared them with mortality data reported by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER). @*Methods@#Cancer-specific mortality data from 1985 to 2020 were obtained from Statistics Korea. ASMRs from thyroid cancer were calculated based on the Korean mid-year resident registration population of 2005. We assessed SEER*Explorer and downloaded the mortality data. @*Results@#The ASMR increased from 0.19 to 0.77/100,000 between 1985 and 2002 but decreased continuously to 0.36/100,000 in 2020. The annual percent change (APC) in the ASMR between 1985 and 2003 and between 2003 and 2020 was 6.204 and −4.218, respectively, with similar patterns observed in both men and women. The ASMR of the SEER showed a modest increase from 1988 to 2016 and then stabilized. In subgroup analysis, the ASMR of the old age group (≥55 years) increased significantly from 0.82 in 1985 to 3.92/100,000 in 2002 (APC 6.917) but then decreased again to 1.86/100,000 in 2020 (APC −4.136). ASMRs according to the age group in the SEER showed a relatively stable trend even in the elderly group. @*Conclusion@#The ASMR of thyroid cancer in Korea had increased from 1985 to 2002 but has since been steadily decreasing. This trend was mainly attributed to elderly people aged 55 or over. The absolute APC value of Korea was much higher than that of the SEER.

Long-term Clinical Course and Prognostic Factor of Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion

Purpose@#To investigate the long-term clinical course and prognostic factors of branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO). @*Methods@#The medical records of patients diagnosed with BRAO were reviewed retrospectively. Visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) at diagnosis were compared with those measured at the final visit. Patients with a decimal VA ≥ 0.6 (good prognosis group) were compared with those with a decimal VA ≤ 0.5 (poor prognosis group) at the final visit. @*Results@#Fifty-five patients were enrolled and the mean follow-up period was 45.8 ± 27.8 months. The mean logarithm of minimum angle of resolution improved from 0.53 ± 0.57 at diagnosis to 0.36 ± 0.61 at the final visit (p = 0.026). The decimal VA was ≤ 0.1 in 13 (23.6%) patients, ≥ 0.2 and ≤ 0.5 in 16 (29.1%) patients, and ≥ 0.6 in 26 (47.3%) patients at diagnosis; the respective values were 9 (16.4%), 8 (14.5%), and 38 (69.1%) at the final visit. The mean CRT significantly decreased from 273.9 ± 34.7 µm at diagnosis to 248.9 ± 27.0 µm at the final visit (p < 0.001). The poor prognosis group (n = 17) was older (p = 0.044) and had a higher incidence of papillomacular bundle involvement (p < 0.001) than the good prognosis group (n = 38). @*Conclusions@#Patients with BRAO generally showed relatively favorable long-term outcomes. However, the final VA was ≤ 0.1 in 16.4% of them, suggesting the need for further treatment modalities to improve the outcome of patients with a poor prognosis.

Course of Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration that Showed Limited Response to Both Ranibizumab and Aflibercept

Purpose@#To evaluate the clinical course of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) that has shown limited response to ranibizumab and aflibercept. @*Methods@#This retrospective study included 14 eyes with nAMD that showed a limited response to initial treatment using ranibizumab and aflibercept. The changes in visual acuity (VA) during the follow-up period and the incidence and timing of VA deterioration to the level of 0.1 or worse were identified. In cases involving bevacizumab treatment, the follow-up duration and the proportion of patients maintaining a VA of 0.2 or better were identified. @*Results@#During the mean 43.3 ± 33.2 months of follow-up, the VA deteriorated significantly from a mean logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) of 0.42 ± 0.34 at diagnosis to 0.91 ± 0.68 at the final follow-up (p = 0.021). A logMAR of 0.3 or greater degree of VA deterioration was noted in six eyes (42.9%). Among the 13 eyes exhibiting a VA of 0.2 or better after the initial treatment, a deterioration to a VA of 0.1 or worse was noted in 6 eyes (46.2%) at a mean 29.7 ± 18.3 months. In eight eyes undergoing bevacizumab treatment, four eyes (50.0%) maintained 0.2 or better VA during the 51.4 ± 35.5 months of follow-up. @*Conclusions@#The clinical course of patients with limited response to ranibizumab and aflibercept was generally unfavorable. However, a relatively long period was required for the deterioration in VA to reach 0.1 or worse. In addition, 0.2 or better VA was maintained in approximately half of the patients.

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy Versus Coblation for the Treatment of Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy: A Clinical Trial

Objectives@#. To compare the efficacy and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy with coblation for the treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH). @*Methods@#. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 20 patients underwent inferior turbinate surgery, which consisted of either HIFU or coblation therapy. Efficacy, safety, and tolerability were evaluated by subjective symptom scores, acoustic rhinometry, and nasal endoscopy. @*Results@#. The modified nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) score and nasal obstruction visual analog scale (NO-VAS) significantly decreased in both groups 12 weeks postoperatively. The between-group differences in the evaluation scores were not statistically significant. On nasal endoscopy, the HIFU patients showed improvements in mucosal swelling sooner than the patients undergoing coblation therapy. Nasal crusting significantly increased in the patients undergoing coblation compared to the patients undergoing HIFU therapy until postoperative week 4. Mucosal preservation was superior in the HIFU patients. Although HIFU was less painful than coblation therapy during the procedure, the difference was not significant (4.9 vs. 6.3, P=0.143). The difference in global satisfaction between the two groups was not statistically significant, although satisfaction was slightly higher among the HIFU patients than among the coblation patients (4.6 vs. 4.1, P=0.393). @*Conclusion@#. HIFU provided results similar to those of coblation therapy for patients with nasal obstruction due to ITH, but HIFU therapy caused less discomfort during the procedure. HIFU therapy appears to be a good noninvasive alternative to the current surgical modalities for ITH.

Relationship between Alcohol Consumption and Testosterone Deficiency according to Facial Flushes among Middle-Aged and Older Korean Men / 가정의학회지

Background@#This study examined the relationship between alcohol consumption and total testosterone deficiency based on facial flushing among Korean men. @*Methods@#A total of 314 men were included in this study and divided into non-drinkers (n=78) and drinkers (n=236). Drinkers were also divided into flushers (n=96) and non-flushers (n=140). Flushers and non-flushers were separated into two groups based on the amount of alcohol consumed: moderate drinkers (≤8 standard drinks per week) and heavy drinkers (>8 standard drinks per week). Total testosterone 8 drinks per week) who flush compared to that in non-drinkers.

Safety and efficacy of nilotinib in adult patients with chronic myeloid leukemia: a post-marketing surveillance study in Korea

Background@#Nilotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for frontline and 2nd line treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML). This study aimed to confirm the safety and efficacy of nilotinib in routine clinical practice within South Korea. @*Methods@#An open-label, multicenter, single-arm, 12-week observational post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study was conducted on 669 Korean adult patients with Ph + CML from December 24, 2010, to December 23, 2016. The patients received nilotinib treatment in routine clinical practice settings. Safety was evaluated by all types of adverse events (AEs) during the study period, and efficacy was evaluated by the complete hematological response (CHR) and cytogenetic response. @*Results@#During the study period, AEs occurred in 61.3% (410 patients, 973 events), adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in 40.5% (271/669 patients, 559 events), serious AEs in 4.5% (30 patients, 37 events), and serious ADRs in 0.7% (5 patients, 8 events). Furthermore, unexpected AEs occurred at a rate of 6.9% (46 patients, 55 events) and unexpected ADRs at 1.2% (8 patients, 8 events). As for the efficacy results, CHR was achieved in 89.5% (442/494 patients), and minor cytogenetic response or major cytogenetic response was achieved in 85.8% (139/162 patients). @*Conclusion@#This PMS study shows consistent results in terms of safety and efficacy compared with previous studies. Nilotinib was well tolerated and efficacious in adult Korean patients with Ph + CML in routine clinical practice settings.

Clinical Characteristics at Initial Diagnosis of Korean Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa

Purpose@#To evaluate the clinical characteristics of Korean patients diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa from January 2014 to December 2019. We evaluated age, gender, the chief complaints, posterior subcapsular cataract status, abnormalities on optical coherence tomography, visual field test results, and electrooculograms. @*Results@#A total of 492 eyes of 246 patients were included. The mean patient age was 48.0 ± 16.0 years and the chief complaints were decreased vision and night blindness. The mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.31 ± 0.50. The BCVA was 0.5 or better in 368 eyes (74.8%). A total of 328 (71.0%) of 462 eyes that underwent visual field testing exhibited visual field defects within 10º. The mean Arden ratio was 1.28 ± 0.28 for the 242 eyes that underwent electro‐oculography. Optical coherence tomography revealed vitreomacular traction/an epiretinal membrane, cystoid macular edema, and retinal thinning in 135 (27.4%), 48 (9.8%), and 112 (22.8%) eyes, respectively. The ellipsoid zone was intact in 222 eyes (45.1%), disrupted in 220 (44.7%), and absent in 50 (10.2%). @*Conclusions@#Most patients with retinitis pigmentosa exhibited visual acuity of 0.5 or better, but also had central visual field defects. Various abnormalities were noted on optical coherence tomography of most patients.

Development of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy for Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy

Objectives@#. Inferior turbinate (IT) hypertrophy is the main cause of chronic nasal obstruction. We developed a high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation device to treat patients with IT hypertrophy. @*Methods@#. First, computed tomography images of patients with no evidence of sinonasal disease were evaluated to measure and compare the IT, medial mucosal thickness (MT), and space between the nasal septum and IT according to clinical characteristics such as septal deviation. A HIFU prototype was developed based on the above human anatomical studies. The experimental study was performed in five pigs; the nasal volume and histological changes at 1 and 4 weeks postoperatively were evaluated to compare the efficacy of HIFU turbinoplasty with that of radiofrequency turbinoplasty and a control group. @*Results@#. The mean medial MT of the anterior, middle, and posterior portions of the IT were 4.66±1.14, 4.23±0.97, and 6.17±1.29 mm, respectively. The mean medial space was 2.65±0.79 mm. The diameter and focal depth of the prototype were 4 mm and 3 mm, respectively. HIFU showed no postoperative complications, including bleeding or scar formation. After HIFU treatment, the nasal volume increased by 196.62 mm3 (7.8%) and 193.74 mm3 (8.3%) at 1 week and 4 weeks, compared with the increase of 87.20 mm3 (3.1%) and 213.81 mm3 (9.0%), respectively,after radiofrequency therapy. A qualitative histological analysis after radiofrequency turbinoplasty showed epithelial layer disruption at 1 week and increased fibrosis, along with decreased glandular structure, at 4 weeks. The HIFU group had an intact epithelial layer at 1 week postoperatively. However, significant differences were observed at 4 weeks, including increased fibrosis and decreased glandular structure. @*Conclusion@#. The efficacy and safety of HIFU turbinoplasty were demonstrated in an animal study. Our results warrant further human clinical trials.

Immunoglobulin G4-Related Thyroid Disease: A Single-Center Experience and Literature Review

Background@#Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease is an entity that can involve the thyroid gland. The spectrum of IgG4-related thyroid disease (IgG4-RTD) includes Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) and its fibrotic variant, Riedel thyroiditis, as well as Graves’ disease. The early diagnosis of IgG4-RTD is important because it is a medically treatable disease, and a delay in the diagnosis might result in unnecessary surgery. We present a case series of IgG4-RTD with a review of the literature. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the clinical presentation and the radiological and pathological findings of patients diagnosed with IgG4-RTD between 2017 and 2021 at a tertiary medical center in Korea. We also conducted a literature review of IgG4-RTD. @*Results@#Five patients were diagnosed with IgG4-RTD during the study period. The patients’ age ranged from 31 to 76 years, and three patients were men. Most patients visited the clinic for a neck mass, and hypoechogenic nodular lesions were observed on neck ultrasonography. Three patients had IgG4 HT, and two patients had IgG4 Riedel thyroiditis. All patients developed hypothyroidism that necessitated L-thyroxine replacement. The diagnosis of IgG4-RTD was confirmed after a pathological examination of the surgical specimen in the first two cases. However, the early diagnosis was possible after a core needle biopsy in three clinically suspected patients. @*Conclusion@#The diagnosis of IgG4-RTD requires clinical suspicion combined with serology and histological analyses using IgG4 immunostaining. The early diagnosis of IgG4-RTD is difficult; thus, biopsy with IgG4 immunostaining and serum IgG4 measurements will help diagnose patients suspected of having IgG4-RTD.

Association of PTTG1 expression with invasiveness of non-functioning pituitary adenomas

Background@#Pituitary tumor transforming gene 1 (PTTG1), paired-like homeodomain 2 (PITX2), and galectin-3 have been widely studied as predictive biomarkers for various tumors and are involved in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. We evaluated the usefulness of PTTG1, PITX2, and galectin-3 as predictive biomarkers for invasive non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) by determining the relationship between the expressions of these three proteins and the invasiveness of the NFPAs. We also investigated whether PTTG1, E-cadherin, and Ki-67, which are known to be related to each other, show a correlation with NFPA features. @*Methods@#A retrospective study was conducted on 87 patients with NPFAs who underwent surgical removal. The NFPAs were classified into three groups based on magnetic resonance imaging findings of suprasellar extension and cavernous sinus invasion. Immunohistochemical staining for PTTG1, PITX2, galectin-3, E-cadherin, and Ki-67 was performed on tissue microarrays. @*Results@#PTTG1 expression showed a statistically significant correlation with the invasiveness of NFPAs, whereas PITX2 and galectin-3 did not have a relationship with the invasiveness of NFPAs. Moreover, there was no association among PTTG1, E-cadherin, and Ki-67 expression. @*Conclusions@#PTTG1 has the potential to serve as a predictive biomarker for invasive NFPA. Furthermore, this study may serve as a reference for the development of PTTG1-targeted therapeutic agents.

Polo-like kinase 4 as a potential predictive biomarker of chemoradioresistance in locally advanced rectal cancer

Background@#Polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) is a serine/threonine protein kinase located in the centriole of the chromosome during the cell cycle. PLK4 overexpression has been described in a variety of many common human epithelial tumors. Conversely, PLK4 acts as a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor in some situations, highlighting the importance of strict regulation of PLK4 expression, activity, and function. Meanwhile, the importance of chemoradiation resistance in rectal cancer is being emphasized more than ever. We aimed to analyze PLK4 expression and the tumor regression grade (TRG) in patients with rectal cancer, treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT). @*Methods@#A retrospective study was conducted on 102 patients with rectal cancer who received preoperative CRT. Immunohistochemistry for PLK4 in paraffin-embedded tissue was performed from the biopsy and surgical specimens. @*Results@#We found significant association between high expression of PLK4 and poor response to neoadjuvant CRT (according to both Mandard and The Korean Society of Pathologists TRG systems) in the pre-CRT specimens. Other clinicopathologic parameters did not reveal any correlation with PLK4 expression. @*Conclusions@#This study revealed an association between high expression of PLK4 in the pre-CRT specimens and TRG. Our results indicated that PLK4 could potentially be a new predictor for CRT effect in patients with rectal cancer.

A Comparative Study on the Treatment Effect of Lipo-Prostagladin with Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Patients / 대한이비인후과학회지

Background and Objectives@#Several drugs which can improve blood flow have been used as treatment options for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) based on the theory that improvement of perfusion into the inner ear will help restore hearing. Lipo-prostaglandin E1 (lipo-PGE1) is a well-known vasodilator that increases peripheral blood flow. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of lipo-PGE1 on the recovery of the SSNHL patients with hypertension or diabetes.Subjects and Method We retrospectively analyzed 801 patients who were diagnosed with SSNHL from January 2007 to December 2018. All patients were treated with 48 mg of methylprednisolone for 5 days; some patients received lipo-PGE1, depending on the attending physician. They were divided into four groups according to the presence or absence of hypertension and diabetes. Hearing test was performed again one month after treatment and compared with the test results at the time of diagnosis. @*Results@#As a result of comparing the hearing thresholds before and after the treatment in each group, there was a significant improvement in hearing thresholds in all groups (p<0.001). However, when comparing the effect of lipo-PGE1 for hearing change, there was a significant difference only in the group without any underlying diseases (p=0.016). @*Conclusion@#In this study, we show that lipo-PGE1 was helpful in hearing recovery when used in patients without underlying diseases rather than patients with hypertension or diabetes. Further studies will be needed to determine the therapeutic effects of lipo-PGE1 as an adjuvant treatment in SSNHL patients.

The effect of autogenous tooth bone graft material without organic matter and type I collagen treatment on bone regeneration / 대한악안면성형재건외과학회지

Objectives@#The aim of this study is to examine the effect of particulate autogenous tooth graft removed with organic matter and type I collagen addition on bone regeneration and to validate the possibility of useful allograft material for jaw defects.Material and methods: Autogenous tooth bone maker (Korean Dental Solution® KOREA) made particulate autogenous tooth not including organic matter. We used to the developed tooth grafts for experiment. Cell adhesion test with hemacytometer and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (Supra40 VP®, Carl Zeiss, Germany) analysis about the particulate autogenous tooth and type I collagen were performed. Rabbits were divided into three groups: bone graft with organic matter (OM) removing particulate autogenous tooth group, bone graft with OM removing particulate autogenous tooth and type I collagen group, and a control group. Bone grafting was performed in rabbit’s calvaria. The rabbits were sacrificed at different interval at 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after bone grafting for the histopathologic observation and observed the effect of bone regeneration by SEM, H-E & Masson stains, osteocalcin IHC staining.Result: In vitro cytopathological study showed affinity for cells, cell attachment pattern, and cell proliferation in the order of control group, OM-removed and collagen-treated group, OM-removed particulate autogenous tooth group. The results of the degree of mineralization were opposite to those of the previous cell experimental results, and the OM-removed group, OM-removed group and collagen-treated group were relatively higher than the control group. Histopathologic analysis showed that vascularization and neonatal bone formation were higher in particulate autogenous tooth group with removing OM and with addition of collagen than control group and group of OM removed only. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that osteocalcin (OSC) expression was not observed in the control group, but at 4 weeks groups, OSC expression was observed the OM removed and OMremoved-collagen-treated particulate autogenous tooth, and the degree of expression was somewhat stronger in group of the OM removed and collagen additionally treated particulate autogenous tooth. @*Conclusion@#Particles that do not contain organic matter, the saint tooth, was responsible for sufficient bone graft material through the role of space maintenance and bone conduction, and further improved bone formation ability through additional collagen treatment. Therefore, research on various extracellular substrates and autologous bone grafting materials is necessary, and through this, it is possible to lay the foundation for a new type of autologous bone grafting material with excellent academic and technical utility.

Analysis of Research Trends in the Korean Journal of Medical Education and Korean Medical Education Review Using Keyword Network Analysis / 의학교육논단

The aim of this study was to analyze the research trends in articles published in the Korean Journal of Medical Education (KJME) and Korean Medical Education Review (KMER) using keyword network analysis. The analyses included 507 papers from 2010 to 2019 published in KJME and KMER. First, keyword frequency analysis showed that the research topics that appeared in both journals were “medical student,” “curriculum,” “clinical clerkship,” and “undergraduate medical education.” Second, centrality analysis of a network map of the keywords identified “curriculum” and “medical student” as highly important research topics in both journals. Third, a cluster analysis of 20 core keywords in KMER identified research clusters related to academic motivation, achievement, educational measurement, medical competence, and clinical practice (centered on “learning,” while in KJME, clusters were related to educational method and program evaluation, medical competence, and clinical practice (centered on “teaching”). In conclusion, future medical education research needs to expand to encompass other research areas, such as educational methods, student evaluations, the educational environment, student counseling, and curriculum.

Laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernias: Risk factors for urinary retention and chronic pain after totally extraperitoneal repair and transabdominal preperitoneal repair

Purpose@#There are various opinions about the postoperative complications of the two methods for laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery; totally extraperitoneal repair (TEP) and transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP). The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative course after TAPP and TEP, focusing on immediate postoperative pain, incidence of postoperative urinary retention (POUR), and chronic pain. @*Methods@#This study retrospectively analyzed a consecutive series of 344 inguinal hernia patients who were treated with laparoscopic surgery between November 2016 and December 2019 at a single tertiary referral center. @*Results@#Patient demographics did not differ significantly between the groups. The operation time was significantly shorter in the TEP group than in the TAPP group (43.1 ± 14.9 minutes vs. 63.5 ± 16.5 minutes, p < 0.001). The postoperative pain scores were significantly lower in the TEP group than in the TAPP group immediately (3.6 ± 1.3 vs. 4.4 ± 1.1, p < 0.001) and 6 hours (1.5 ± 1.4 vs. 2.3 ± 1.8, p < 0.001) after the operation. The other complications did not differ significantly between the groups. Age was a significant risk factor for POUR (odds ratio [OR], 1.083; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.018–1.151; p = 0.011), and history of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) was a significant risk factor for chronic pain (OR, 5.363; 95% CI, 1.028–27.962; p = 0.046). @*Conclusion@#TEP and TAPP seem to be safe and effective for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair and have similar postoperative outcomes. Age was a significant risk factor for POUR, and BPH history was a significant risk factor for chronic pain.

Validation of the Simplified Palliative Prognostic Index to Predict Survival for Advanced Cancer Patients in Home Hospice Setting / 가정의학회지

Background@#The simplified Palliative Prognostic Index (sPPI) substitutes a single item from the Communication Capacity Scale (CCS) for the delirium item of the original PPI. This study aimed to examine the validity of the sPPI for patients with advanced cancer in a home-based hospice care setting. @*Methods@#This study included 75 patients with advanced cancer who received home-based hospice care. We used medical records maintained by professional hospice nurses who had visited the patients in their homes. Based on their sPPI score, patients were divided into three groups—A (<4), B (≥4 and <6), and C (≥6)—to compare survival. Further, we investigated the sPPI’s accuracy using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and sensitivity and specificity for 3- and 6-week survival. We used three sPPIs including different substitutions for the delirium item (two methods using the CCS and one using the Korean Nursing Delirium Screening Scale). @*Results@#The median survival was 60–61 days for group A, 27–30 days for group B, and 12–16 days for group C. The difference in survival was significant (P<0.05). The AUC was 0.814–0.867 for 3-week survival and 0.736–0.779 for 6-week survival. For 3- and 6-week survival, prognostic prediction showed sensitivities of 76.2%–90.9% and 76.3%–86.8%, and specificities of 64.2%–88.7% and 51.4%–70.3%, respectively. @*Conclusion@#The sPPI, which is measured by professional hospice nurses, has acceptable validity to predict survival for patients with advanced cancer in a home hospice setting in South Korea.

Outcomes of Re-fixation after the First Intraocular Lens Scleral Fixation

Purpose@#To investigate the outcomes of re-fixation after the first intraocular lens (IOL) scleral fixation. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients who underwent second IOL scleral fixation and vitrectomy for dislocation of IOL after the first IOL scleral fixation. We compared the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and spherical equivalent (SE) after 1 month of the first and second surgery, and noted the complications. @*Results@#We included 21 eyes that underwent second IOL scleral fixation: 13 eyes (61.9%) with IOL exchange and eight (38.1%) with one-haptic fixation. Mean BCVAs (LogMAR) were 0.17 ± 0.25 and 0.11 ± 0.23 after the first and second surgery, respectively (p = 0.073); mean SEs were -0.94 ± 1.69 and -0.58 ± 1.46 diopters after the first and second surgery, respectively (p = 0.076). Postoperative complications occurred in eight eyes (38.1%), including temporarily increased intraocular pressure and suture knots exposure. However, none of the complications required re-operation. @*Conclusions@#The outcomes of primary and secondary IOL fixation were similar, and there were no serious complications of the second surgery.

Limited Treatment Response during Follow-up after Switching to Aflibercept in Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration

Purpose@#To investigate the limited response to aflibercept after switching to aflibercept in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). @*Methods@#This retrospective study included 70 eyes with neovascular AMD that were initially treated with ranibizumab and then switched to aflibercept. The incidence and timing of the limited response to aflibercept were identified and visual outcome was compared between eyes with and without limited response. In addition, factors predictive of limited response were analyzed. @*Results@#A limited response to aflibercept was noted in approximately 1/5 of the patients who underwent switching to aflibercept in neovascular AMD. Switching to aflibercept was performed at a mean of 16.2 ± 12.7 months after diagnosis. During the mean 34.7 months of follow-up after switching, limited response was noted in 15 eyes (21.4%) at a mean of 22.0 ± 13.9 months after switching. The degree of reduction in visual acuity was mean logMAR 0.34 ± 0.41 in eyes with limited response and mean 0.06 ± 0.20 in eyes without (p = 0.002). In addition, the duration between the diagnosis and the switching was shorter (p = 0.012), and the number of ranibizumab injections before switching was lower (p = 0.016) in eyes with limited response than in eyes without. @*Conclusions@#Patients who showed limited response to aflibercept after switching to aflibercept showed a worse visual outcome. The probability of having a limited response is higher when the switching is performed earlier.