Identification of Ethnically Specific Genetic Variations in Pan-Asian Ethnos

Asian populations contain a variety of ethnic groups that have ethnically specific genetic differences. Ethnic variants may be highly relevant in disease and human differentiation studies. Here, we identified ethnically specific variants and then investigated their distribution across Asian ethnic groups. We obtained 58,960 Pan-Asian single nucleotide polymorphisms of 1,953 individuals from 72 ethnic groups of 11 Asian countries. We selected 9,306 ethnic variant single nucleotide polymorphisms (ESNPs) and 5,167 ethnic variant copy number polymorphisms (ECNPs) using the nearest shrunken centroid method. We analyzed ESNPs and ECNPs in 3 hierarchical levels: superpopulation, subpopulation, and ethnic population. We also identified ESNP- and ECNP-related genes and their features. This study represents the first attempt to identify Asian ESNP and ECNP markers, which can be used to identify genetic differences and predict disease susceptibility and drug effectiveness in Asian ethnic populations.

The Role of Massive Shaking Irrigation and Abdominal Drainage After Laparoscopic Appendectomy for Panperitonitis Secondary to Perforated Appendicitis in Children

Use of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) for perforated appendicitis (PA) in children remains controversial because of the development of postoperative intra-abdominal abscess formation. We developed the irrigation method for the prevention of abscess formation after LA performed for PA in children with severe panperitonitis. We called it 'the shaking irrigation'. The object of this study was to analyze the efficacy of this irrigation method. All cases of PA with severe panperitonitis in children that underwent LA with massive shaking irrigation and drainage between June 2003 and December 2007 were studied retrospectively. We included only PA with panperitonitis and large amounts of purulent ascites throughout the abdomen as well as an inflamed small bowel with ileus. Thirty-four children were involved in this study. The mean patient age was eight years. The mean amount of irrigation fluid was 8.2L (range: 4-15L). The mean operative time was 89.5 min. The mean length of the hospital stay was 5.1 days. There were no postoperative intra-abdominal abscesses. There was no conversion to open surgery. In conclusion, Use of LA in PA with severe panperitonitis in children is safe and effective. Massive shaking irrigation and abdominal drainage appears to prevent intra-abdominal abscesses after LA for PA with panperitonitis.

Early Experience of Single-Port Laparoscopic Anterior Resection for Colon Cancer / 대한내시경복강경외과학회지

PURPOSE: Single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) has recently emerged as a method to improve the morbidity and cosmetic benefit of conventional laparoscopic surgery. We describe our experience of SPLS for an anterior resection (AR). The results of a prospective series of single-port laparoscopic anterior resection procedures are presented. METHODS: Anterior resections were performed on 16 cases using a single-port laparoscopic technique between March 2009 and March 2010. The surgical and oncologic outcomes were recorded on a prospective database. RESULTS: Sixteen (8 women) unselected patients (eight males, eight females), aged 43~82 years (median 66.5 years), underwent a SPLS anterior resection for sigmoid colon cancers (median 16 cm above AV, range 13~27). All patients were alive at 30 days. The surgery time ranged from 150~415 min (median 242 min) and the median wound incision length was 2.4 cm (range 1.5~4.0 cm). The median hospital stay was 7.5 days. Pathological reports from the resected specimens revealed adenocarcinoma in 15 patients and mucinous carcinoma in one. There was one case of an anastomotic leak that required reanastomosis. The median number of lymph nodes harvested was 27.5 (range 10~56). CONCLUSION: SPLS is a possible approach to an anterior resection with the potential for minimal access. A SPLS anterior resection is feasible and safe when performed by an experienced laparoscopic surgeon and team. On the other hand, the technique and oncologic safety warrants further prospective randomized studies.