Comparison of Surgical Outcomes of Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy Between Patients With Nonfunctioning Adrenal Adenomas and Subclinical Cushing Syndrome: A Single-Center Experience

PURPOSE: To examine and compare the perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) and to determine its efficacy in patients with nonfunctioning adrenal adenomas (NFA) and subclinical Cushing syndrome (SCS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data obtained from 79 consecutive patients who underwent LA for the treatment of either NFA (n=35) or SCS (n=44) between 2011 and 2016. All patients had undergone computed tomography, as well as endocrinological tests to confirm the diagnosis prior to the adrenalectomy. The primary endpoint was improved metabolic parameters relating to diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity. RESULTS: Patients with SCS compared to those with NFA showed a higher occurrence of diabetes (29.5% vs. 11.4%), hypertension (59.1% vs. 34.3%), and dyslipidemia (43.2% vs. 14.3%). Patients with SCS showed a smaller median tumor size compared to those with NFA (2.5 cm vs. 5 cm). No significant perioperative complications ≥ Clavien-Dindo classification grade III were observed in any patient (SCS or NFA group). In terms of their metabolic profile, patients with SCS showed a significant postoperative improvement in hypertension (50.0%), diabetes (53.9%), dyslipidemia (31.6%), and obesity (29.2%). However, patients with NFA showed a postoperative improvement only in dyslipidemia (40.0%) and obesity (4.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Owing to absence of significant perioperative complications and the marked postoperative improvement in metabolic impairment, LA is a useful treatment strategy in patients diagnosed with SCS. In contrast, LA was not observed to show beneficial effects in correcting/improving the metabolic profile in patients presenting with NFA.

Evaluation of treatment response and tissue necrosis as prognostic indicators following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The objective of this study was to assess the prognostic roles of treatment response and tissue necrosis after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer. METHODS: A total of 243 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent neoadjuvant CRT were included. Three treatment response groups were classified by their pathological stage results: complete treatment response (CTR), intermediate treatment response (ITR), and poor treatment response (PTR). Three tissue necrosis groups were classified based on tissue pathological results: complete necrosis response (CNR), intermediate necrosis response (INR), and poor necrosis response (PNR). RESULTS: Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate at three years were 74.5% and 61.3%, respectively. The 3-year OS rates of the CTR, ITR, and PTR groups were 83.7%, 75.9%, and 69.7%, respectively (p < 0.001); the 3-year RFS rates were 76.7%, 69.0%, and 52.1%, respectively (p < 0.001). The 3-year OS rates of the CNR, INR, and PNR groups were 83.7%, 80.6%, and 61.8%, respectively (p < 0.001); the 3-year RFS rates were 76.7%, 68.9%, and 44.3%, respectively (p < 0.001). When compared to CTR/CNR, PTR/PNR was strongly related to an increased risk of recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 5.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.01 to 15.23 vs. HR, 6.37; 95% CI, 2.29 to 17.74, respectively) in univariate Cox regression. Both PTR and PNR were strongly associated with shorter RFS and OS when compared with CTR and CNR in the multivariate Cox regression. CONCLUSIONS: Tissue necrosis is an equally important prognostic marker as treatment response for oncologic outcomes in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Analyses of the TCR repertoire of MHC class II-restricted innate CD4+ T cells

Analysis of the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of innate CD4+ T cells selected by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-dependent thymocyte-thymocyte (T-T) interaction (T-T CD4+ T cells) is essential for predicting the characteristics of the antigens that bind to these T cells and for distinguishing T-T CD4+ T cells from other types of innate T cells. Using the TCRmini Tg mouse model, we show that the repertoire of TCRalpha chains in T-T CD4+ T cells was extremely diverse, in contrast to the repertoires previously described for other types of innate T cells. The TCRalpha chain sequences significantly overlapped between T-T CD4+ T cells and conventional CD4+ T cells in the thymus and spleen. However, the diversity of the TCRalpha repertoire of T-T CD4+ T cells seemed to be restricted compared with that of conventional CD4+ T cells. Interestingly, the frequency of the parental OT-II TCRalpha chains was significantly reduced in the process of T-T interaction. This diverse and shifted repertoire in T-T CD4+ T cells has biological relevance in terms of defense against diverse pathogens and a possible regulatory role during peripheral T-T interaction.

Relationship between N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and renal function: the effects on predicting early outcome after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Plasma levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) provide useful prognostic predictors in patients after cardiac surgery. However, predictive accuracy of NT-proBNP levels has varied significantly according to renal dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to assess whether preoperative NT-proBNP levels could be used as predictors of early postoperative outcomes on the basis of renal function in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB). METHODS: In 219 patients undergoing elective OPCAB, NT-proBNP and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were assessed preoperatively. All patients were divided into 3 groups according to tertiles of eGFR: the first (eGFR > or = 90 ml/min/1.73 m2), the second (90 ml/min/1.73 m2 > eGFR > or = 72 ml/min/1.73 m2) and the third tertile group (eGFR 48 hr), prolonged ICU stay (> or = 3 days), and in hospital mortality. RESULTS: There was no difference in early postoperative complications among groups. A preoperative NT-proBNP level of 228 pg/ml and 302 pg/ml (sensitivity 70%, specificity 67%, P < 0.001 and sensitivity 73%, specificity 63%, P = 0.001, respectively) were optimal cut-off values predicting complicated early postoperative course in second and third tertile group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative NT-proBNP levels seem to be predictive of early postoperative complications in patients with eGFR < 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 undergoing OPCAB.

Increased Short- and Long-term Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease after Salmonella or Campylobacter Gastroenteritis. Gastroenterology 2009;137:495-501 / 대한소화기학회지

No abstract available.

Schizencephaly Suspected as Normal Tension Glaucoma on Ophthalmoscopic Examination

PURPOSE: Occasionally, in nonglaucomatous optic atrophy, the optic nerve head may appear to be cupped to such a degree that normal tension glaucoma is suspected. We report such a case of visual field defects from schizencephaly in a patient initially suspected to have normal tension glaucoma, using ophthalmoscopic examination only. METHODS: An 18-year-old male patient visited our clinic because of bilateral visual disturbance which had developed 5 years previously. Ophthalmoscopic examination revealed an increased cup to disc ratio, peripapillary atrophy, and loss of temporal neuroretinal rim tissue. The authors suspected normal tension glaucoma in both eyes. However, because the patient was too young and the visual field test revealed atypical field defects of the left superior quadrants in both eyes, we performed MRI. The results showed right schizencephaly with an absence of septum pellucidum. In order to rule out hypothalamic- pituitary dysfunction which can coexist with the absence of septum pellucidum, we conducted combined pituitary function test (cocktail test) which revealed normal results. RESULTS: The patient was initially suspected to have normal tension glaucoma on ophthalmoscopic examination alone. However, because the patient was too young and showed nonglaucomatous visual field defects, MRI was performed and revealed right schizencephaly.

Congenital Anophthalmos Associated with Optic Nerve Aplasia in the Contralateral Eye

Anophthalmos associated with optic nerve aplasia in the contralateral eye is extremely rare. To our knowledge, this is the first case report in Korea. A 3-day-old girl had anophthalmos in the right eye and optic nerve aplasia in the left. Except for the ocular findings, she was relatively healthy. Her sibling had also anophthalmos and expired 4 days after birth. But we could not take her siblings history in detail. We report this case with a brief review of literatures.