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Purpose@#In general, bile is normally sterile. However, there are reports bactibilia may occur in certain instances, though the causal factors are unclear. We analyzed possible preoperative predictors of bactibilia upon cholecystectomy. @*Methods@#Bile samples were collected during cholecystectomies from November 2018 to November 2019. A total of 428 open or laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were compared between the culture-positive and culture-negative groups. @*Results@#One hundred fifty-seven patients (36.7%) were culture-positive. Gram-negative bacteria (95 [61.0%]) were more common. Escherichia coli (38 [40.0%]) and Enterobacter (22 [23.2%]) were the most common species. In univariate analysis, age of ≥70 years (P < 0.001), male sex (P < 0.001), high American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status grades (P = 0.001), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.002), jaundice (P = 0.007), high Tokyo Guideline grades (P = 0.008), percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD; P < 0.001), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP; P < 0.001) were identified as a risk factors for bactibilia. In multivariate analysis, age of ≥70 years (hazard ratio [HR], 2.874; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.769–4.670; P = 0.001), ERCP (HR, 9.001; 95% CI, 4.833–16.75; P < 0.001), and PTGBD (HR, 2.866; 95% CI, 1.440–4.901; P = 0.002) were independent risk factors for bactibilia. @*Conclusion@#Among patients who underwent cholecystectomy, those who were elderly, symptomatic, and underwent preoperative drainage were more likely to have bactibilia. In such cases, surgeons should take care to prevent bile leakage during surgery and consider administering appropriate antibiotics.
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Purpose@#The clinical significance of margin status in pancreatic head cancer is still controversial due to the nonstandardized definition of R status and pathologic reporting. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the margin status including location and the role of radiation therapy in pancreatic head cancer. @*Methods@#A total of 314 patients who underwent curative-intent surgery for pancreatic head cancer between 2010 and 2017 were analyzed. Demographics, survival, and local recurrences were compared according to 2 definitions: 0-mm R1 as direct involvement and 1-mm R1 as close resection margin less than 1 mm. The specific margins were divided into 4 groups according to the location around the pancreas: pancreas transection, anterior surface, posterior surface, and vessel (superior mesenteric artery/superior mesenteric vein) margin. @*Results@#The 0-mm R1-rate was 15.6%, and increased to 36.3% in 1-mm R1. The median overall survival rate of 0-mm R0 vs. R1 was 26 months vs. 16 months (P = 0.052) and that of 1-mm R0 vs. R1 was 27 months vs. 18 months, respectively (P = 0.016). In individual margins, posterior, anterior surface, and pancreas transection margin involvement were associated with poor outcome, and the 1 mm posterior surface involvement was an independent risk factor for disease-free survival (hazard ratio, 1.63). Adjuvant radiation therapy had oncologic benefits, especially in R1 patients (P = 0.011) compared to R0 patients (P = 0.088). @*Conclusion@#Margin status, especially 1-mm R1 status is an important predictive factor, and involved posterior surface has a clinical impact. Patients with positive margins should be considered adjuvant radiation therapy.
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Purpose@#The measurement of stool elastase (SE) level is useful for evaluating pancreatic exocrine function. This study aimed to determine the risk factors for severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), and analyze serial changes in nutritional markers and weight based on the SE level. @*Methods@#Among patients who underwent PD for periampullary disease, patients whose preoperative and postoperative SE levels were measured were included in the study. The deteriorated (exocrine function) group comprised patients whose SE levels decreased from ≥100 µg/g preoperatively to <100 µg/g postoperatively. Patients whose weight 12 months postoperatively was greater than that 3 months postoperatively were classified into the weight-recovery group. @*Results@#Of the 202 included patients, the deteriorated group had a higher incidence of preoperative SE level above 200 μg/ g, benign pathology, and the presence of a clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula than the maintained group. Patients who did not undergo weight recovery had a higher rate of history of adjuvant radiotherapy compared to the norecovery group. @*Conclusion@#The evaluation of EPI by measuring SE alone is not sufficient because it does not reflect the nutritional status of patients, and a comprehensive approach that considers other parameters is required for EPI management.
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Purpose@#Various hemostatic agents have been introduced in therapy as postoperative bleeding is a poor prognostic factor for postoperative outcomes. These products can be divided into those that directly promote the hemostatic cascade and those that physically form a barrier by absorbing blood. The latter, powder-type hemostatic agents have the advantages of being inexpensive and more absorbable with less foreign body reactions (FBRs) and are applicable to a relatively wide area. This study was conducted to verify the safety and efficacy of a newly invented polysaccharide product (OOZFIX, Theracion Biomedical), which improves blood absorption and hemostatic effects. @*Methods@#Two separate animal experiments were performed. The first evaluated FBRs histologically at 3 days, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks, after implantation of OOZFIX in rats, and the second compared hemostatic performance of OOZFIX and Arista AH (Bard) in the porcine liver punch biopsy model. @*Results@#We found minimal FBRs in the 3-day group and no reactions in both the 2-week and 4-week groups after implantation of hemostatic agents. The time to hemostasis of OOZFIX was not significantly different from that of Arista AH (median [interquartile range]: 9 [6–10] minutes vs. 8 [6–10] minutes, respectively; P = 0.522). When comparing the serial bleeding grade tendency, there was no statistical difference between OOZFIX and Arista AH (P = 0.656). @*Conclusion@#OOZFIX caused a minimal FBR that disappeared within 2 weeks in vivo, and its hemostatic performance was comparable with that of an existing agent, Arista AH. Further clinical studies are required in the future.
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Purpose@#Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is distinguished into perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) and distal bile duct cancer (DBC). The studies for each subtype have been conducted separately. This study compared oncological outcomes between PHC and DBC. @*Methods@#From 2001 to 2017, patients who underwent surgery at Seoul National University Hospital for PHC or DBC were enrolled. T stage was reclassified for tumor extent as ‘confined to’ or ‘beyond’ the bile duct (BD). In survival analysis, stage matching was performed based on tumor extent and lymph node (LN) metastasis. @*Results@#There were 680 patients enrolled: 295 with PHC and 385 with DBC. The R0 resection rate was higher in DBC (77.3% vs. 89.9%, P = 0.001). Tumors confined to BD were more common in PHC (61.7% vs. 37.7%, P = 0.001). The 5-year survival rate (5YSR) was higher in DBC patients (30.8% vs. 47.8%, P = 0.001). After stage matching, DBC patients showed better 5YSR for tumors confined to BD/LN(–) (47.1% vs. 64.3%), confined to BD/LN(+) (22.0% vs. 35.0%), beyond BD/LN(–) (21.9% vs. 49.8%), and beyond BD/LN(+) (9.6% vs. 26.9%). The overall recurrence rate was higher in PHC (59.7% vs. 51.9%, P = 0.045), with no difference in the recurrence types between two groups. Radiation therapy was effective for patients with advanced stage disease (5YSR: 35.8% vs. 29.5%, P = 0.022); adjuvant chemotherapy was effective for patients receiving R1 resection (5YSR: 37.3% vs. 13.2%, P = 0.040). @*Conclusion@#Differences were identified in oncological outcomes between PHC and DBC, including pathologic findings and survival outcomes.
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Background@#Although the association between an increase in anastomotic leakage (AL) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been reported in gastrointestinal surgeries, this issue has rarely been addressed for pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). We aimed to investigate the association between postoperative NSAIDs administration and clinically relevant AL (CR-AL) following PD. @*Methods@#We retrospectively evaluated 2,163 consecutive patients who underwent PD between 2007 and 2019. The patients were divided into two groups; patients who received and did not receive NSAIDs by postoperative day (POD) 5. We conducted a propensity score analysis using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to adjust the baseline differences between both groups. We compared the occurrence of CR-AL and other postoperative outcomes before and after IPTW. Further, we used the multivariable binary logistic regression method for a sensitivity analysis for CR-AL. @*Results@#A total of 2,136 patients were included in the analysis. Of these, 222 (10.4%) received NSAIDs by POD 5. The overall occurrence rate of CR-AL was 14.9%. After IPTW, postoperative NSAIDs were significantly associated with CR-AL (odds ratio [OR]: 1.24, 95% CI [1.05, 1.47], P = 0.012), prolonged postoperative hospitalization (OR: 1.31, 95% CI [1.14, 1.50], P < 0.001), and unplanned readmission within 30 days postoperatively (OR 1.48: 95% CI [1.15, 1.91], P = 0.002). However, this association was not consistent in the sensitivity analysis. @*Conclusions@#Postoperative NSAIDs use was significantly associated with an increase in CR-AL incidence following PD. However, sensitivity analysis failed to show its association, which precludes a firm conclusion of its detrimental effect.
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Purpose@#Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has various characteristics according to anatomical, histologic classifications, and its prognoses are different. This study aimed to compare oncologic outcomes according to tumor location (second bile duct confluence) and evaluate the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy. @*Methods@#Clinical data of 318 patients who underwent curative resection for ICC was reviewed. Central type ICC (C-ICC) and peripheral type ICC (P-ICC) were defined when the tumor invades the intrahepatic secondary biliary confluence and when located more peripherally, respectively. @*Results@#A larger tumor size, higher rate of elevated CA 19-9 level, vascular invasion, R1 resection, advanced T stage, and lymph node metastasis were found in C-ICC. C-ICC had poorer overall survival (median, 33 months vs. 58 months; P = 0.001), and the difference was more prominent in the early stage. C-ICC had a higher recurrence rate (68.7% vs. 55.1%, P = 0.014); otherwise, there was no difference in the recurrence patterns. There were no survival benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy in the entire cohort, but there were benefits in advanced stages (T3–4, N1 stage), especially in C-ICC. @*Conclusion@#C-ICC has more aggressive tumor characteristics and poor survival compared to P-ICC. Adjuvant chemotherapy seems to have survival benefits in the advanced stages, especially in the central type.
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Purpose@#Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a life-threatening complication following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD).We previously developed nomogram- and artificial intelligence (AI)-based risk prediction platforms for POPF after PD. This study aims to externally validate these platforms. @*Methods@#Between January 2007 and December 2016, a total of 1,576 patients who underwent PD in Seoul National University Hospital, Ilsan Paik Hospital, and Boramae Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed. The individual risk scores for POPF were calculated using each platform by Samsung Medical Center. The predictive ability was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve and the area under the curve (AUC). The optimal predictive value was obtained via backward elimination in accordance with the results from the AI development process. @*Results@#The AUC of the nomogram after external validation was 0.679 (P < 0.001). The values of AUC after backward elimination in the AI model varied from 0.585 to 0.672. A total of 13 risk factors represented the maximal AUC of 0.672 (P < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#We performed external validation of previously developed platforms for predicting POPF. Further research is needed to investigate other potential risk factors and thereby improve the predictability of the platform.
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Purpose@#As pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) is a challenging anastomosis, an education program is needed to train young surgeons to perform PJ. This study evaluated the effects of simulation-based training of open PJ using pancreas and intestine silicone models. @*Methods@#Five videos pancreatobiliary clinical fellows who did not perform PJ participated in this study. After watching the master video created by a senior pancreatobiliary surgeon, each trainee performed the PJ using silicone models and recorded them 10 times using a video camera. Of these videos, 5 were randomly duplicated due to the validation of the scoring system. The scoring system developed consisted of 20 scores. Three pancreatobiliary professors scored their performance by watching videos. @*Results@#The mean procedure time of the 5 trainees was 25.4 minutes (range, 23.5–27.3 minutes) in the first video and 15.8 minutes (range, 13.8–19.1 minutes) in the 10th video. The mean score was 12.6 (range, 5–19) and 18.3 (range, 15–20) in the first and 10th videos, respectively. The scores were similar among the duplicated videos for each supervisor. @*Conclusion@#This education system would help pancreatobiliary trainees to overcome learning curves efficiently without ethical issues related to animal models or direct practice to human patients.
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Background/Aims@#Several prediction models for evaluating the prognosis of nonmetastatic resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have been developed, and their performances were reported to be superior to that of the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. We developed a prediction model to evaluate the prognosis of resected PDAC and externally validated it with data from a nationwide Korean database. @*Methods@#Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database were utilized for model development, and data from the Korea Tumor Registry System-Biliary Pancreas (KOTUS-BP) database were used for external validation. Potential candidate variables for model development were age, sex, histologic differentiation, tumor location, adjuvant chemotherapy, and the AJCC 8th staging system T and N stages. For external validation, the concordance index (C-index) and time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were evaluated. @*Results@#Between 2004 and 2016, data from 9,624 patients were utilized for model development, and data from 3,282 patients were used for external validation. In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, age, sex, tumor location, T and N stages, histologic differentiation, and adjuvant chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for resected PDAC. After an exhaustive search and 10-fold cross validation, the best model was finally developed, which included all prognostic variables. The C-index, 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, and 5-year time-dependent AUCs were 0.628, 0.650, 0.665, 0.675, and 0.686, respectively. @*Conclusions@#The survival prediction model for resected PDAC could provide quantitative survival probabilities with reliable performance. External validation studies with other nationwide databases are needed to evaluate the performance of this model.
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Purpose@#Despite curative resection, the 5-year survival for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer is less than 20%. Recurrence occurs both locally and at distant sites and effective multimodality adjuvant treatment is needed. @*Materials and Methods@#Patients with curatively resected stage IB-IIB pancreatic adenocarcinoma were eligible. Treatment consisted of chemotherapy with gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and cisplatin 60 mg/m2 on day 1 every 3 weeks for two cycles, followed by chemoradiotherapy (50.4 Gy/28 fx) with weekly gemcitabine (300 mg/m2/wk), and then gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks for four cycles. The primary endpoint was 1-year disease-free survival rate. The secondary endpoints were disease-free survival, overall survival, and safety. @*Results@#Seventy-four patients were enrolled. One-year disease-free survival rate was 57.9%. Median disease-free and overall survival were 15.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.6 to 18.4) and 33.0 months (95% CI, 21.8 to 44.2), respectively. At the median follow-up of 32 months, 57 patients (77.0%) had recurrence including 11 patients whose recurrence was during the adjuvant treatment. Most of the recurrences were systemic (52 patients). Stage at the time of diagnosis (70.0% in IIA, 51.2% in IIB, p=0.006) were significantly related with 1-year disease-free survival rate. Toxicities were generally tolerable, with 53 events of grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicity and four patients with febrile neutropenia. @*Conclusion@#Adjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy with gemcitabine and maintenance gemcitabine showed efficacy and good tolerability in curatively resected pancreatic cancer.
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Purpose@#Although serum CEA and CA 19-9 have been widely utilized for the diagnosis of gallbladder cancer (GBC), few studies have examined the diagnostic performance of them. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of these 2 biomarkers and demonstrate their clinical usefulness in diagnosing GBC. @*Methods@#Between January 2000 and March 2020, a total of 751 GBC patients and 2,310 normal controls were included. Serum CEA and CA 19-9 were measured preoperatively. Receiver operating characteristic curves were obtained, and the sensitivity and specificity of each biomarker were evaluated. @*Results@#In terms of differentiating GBC from the control, the sensitivity and specificity of serum CEA at 5 ng/mL was 12.1% and 99.1%, respectively, and those of serum CA 19-9 at 37 IU/mL were 28.7% and 94.5%, respectively. The optimal cutoff values of CEA and CA 19-9 were set to 2.1 ng/mL and 26 IU/mL in the receiver operating characteristic curves, respectively.The sensitivities of CEA and CA 19-9 at new cutoff values slightly increased but remained low (CEA, 42.9%; CA 19-9, 38.2%). When differentiating early-stage GBC from advanced tumor, the sensitivity and specificity, were 14.2% and 96.1% for CEA (cutoff value, 5 ng/mL) and 33.6% and 90.1% for CA 19-9 (cutoff value, 37 IU/mL), respectively. @*Conclusion@#Serum CEA and CA 19-9 levels are not suitable for screening GBC patients from controls. New promising biomarkers with higher sensitivity should be explored.
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Purpose@#There are few reports of postoperative long-term malignant risk or postoperative sequelae after surgery for choledochal cysts (CCs). This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with malignancy and the longterm results of operated CC. @*Methods@#The patients who underwent surgical treatments for CC between 2003 and 2020 at Seoul National University Hospital were enrolled. Clinicopathologic factors and pre-/postoperative computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging were reviewed. @*Results@#Of the 153 patients, Todani classification Ic (36.6%), C-P type (43.8%) anomalous pancreaticobiliary duct union were the most common type respectively. Fourteen patients (9.2%) had biliary tract cancer and a comparison of patients with and without malignancy showed that the diameter of cyst was significantly lower in malignant patients and malignancy was observed to be significantly higher in P-C type. The incidence of long-term complications was 9.8%, and the median time interval was 30 months. The 2 most common complications were cholangitis and stricture (60.0%). There was one case of new cancer near the intrapancreatic remnant bile duct. @*Conclusion@#Of the resected CCs, 9.2% had a combined malignancy on the biliary tracts. Long-term complications such as cholangitis, anastomotic stricture, and new cancers may occur. Therefore, continuous surveillance is required.
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Background/Aims@#Although many studies have reported the promising effect of neoadjuvant treatment for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) to increase resectability, only a few studies have recommended the use of first-line chemotherapeutic agents as neoadjuvant treatment for BRPC. The current study compared clinical outcomes between gemcitabine and FOLFIRINOX (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan) in patients with BRPC. @*Methods@#In this single-center retrospective study, 100 BRPC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and resection from 2008 to 2018 were reviewed. Clinical outcomes included overall survival, resectability, and recurrence patterns after gemcitabine or FOLFIRINOX treatment. @*Results@#For neoadjuvant chemotherapy, gemcitabine was administered to 34 patients and FOLFIRINOX to 66. Neoadjuvant radiotherapy was administered to 27 patients (79.4%) treated with gemcitabine and 19 (28.8%) treated with FOLFIRINOX (p<0.001). The 2- and 5-year survival rates (YSRs) were significantly higher after FOLFIRINOX (2YSR, 72.2%; 5YSR, 46.0%) than after gemcitabine (2YSR, 58.4%; 5YSR, 19.1%; p=0.041). The margin negative rate was comparable (gemcitabine, 94.1%; FOLFIRINOX, 92.4%; p=0.753), and the tumor size change in percentage showed only a marginal difference (gemcitabine, 20.5%; FOLFIRINOX, 29.0%; p=0.069). Notably, the metastatic recurrence rate was significantly lower in the FOLFIRINOX group (n=20, 52.6%) than in the gemcitabine group (n=22, 78.6%; p=0.001). The rate of adverse events after chemotherapy was significantly higher with FOLFIRINOX than with gemcitabine (43.9%, 20.6%, respectively; p=0.037). @*Conclusions@#FOLFIRINOX provided more clinical and oncological benefit than gemcitabine, with significantly higher overall survival and lower cumulative recurrence rates in BRPC. However, since FOLFIRINOX causes more adverse effects, the regimen should be individualized based on patient’s general condition and clinical status.
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Purpose@#Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) is widely performed but its efficacy and safety are not established for malignant lesions. This study was aimed to compare outcomes of LDP and open distal pancreatectomy (ODP) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). @*Methods@#Patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy for PDAC between 2009 and 2017 were enrolled. The preoperative clinical stage was evaluated and propensity score matching (PSM) was performed using age, sex, The American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th clinical T stage, and other organ involvement. @*Results@#In 186 patients enrolled, 35 (18.8%) received LDP. The ODP group showed larger tumor size and frequent involvement of other organs in preoperative images. However, after PSM, these differences were balanced. R0 resection (90.5% vs. 94.3%, P = 0.730), harvested lymph nodes (14.3 vs. 12.6, P = 0.380) and pathologic T stage (P = 0.474) were comparable between ODP and LDP groups, respectively. LDP demonstrated shorter operation time, less postoperative pain, and shorter hospitalization (14.4 days vs. 11.1 days, P = 0.026). In terms of long-term oncologic outcomes, median overall survival (32 months vs. 28 months, P = 0.724) and disease-free survival (18 months vs. 19 months, P = 0.926) were comparable. @*Conclusion@#LDP demonstrated better short-term outcomes and comparable long-term outcomes compared with ODP.LDP is a safe and feasible procedure for PDAC.
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Purpose@#Quality of life (QoL) is widely known to be poor after total pancreatectomy (TP) due to the loss of pancreatic function and poor nutritional status, but prospective studies on changes in QoL over time are lacking. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the short- and long-term consequences of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, changes in nutritional status, and their associated effects on QoL after TP. @*Methods@#Prospective data were collected from patients who underwent TP between 2008 and 2018. Validated questionnaires (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire [EORTC QLQ] Core 30, EORTC QLQ-pancreatic cancer module, and the Mini Nutritional Assessment), measured frequency of bowel movement, relative body weight (RBW), triceps skinfold thickness (TSFT), and serum levels of protein, albumin, transferrin, and hemoglobin A1c were collected serially for 1 year. @*Results@#Thirty patients who underwent TP were eligible for the study. Bowel movement frequency increased over time, and the RBW and TSFT were lowest by 1 year. The global health status score showed no significant difference over time.At 3 months, physical and role function scores as well as symptoms of fatigue, constipation, and digestive difficulties worsened significantly. Most indices recovered after 1 year, but poorer physical function scores, digestive difficulties, and altered bowel habits persisted. @*Conclusion@#Because some symptoms do not recover over time, careful follow-up and supportive postoperative management are needed for TP patients, including nutritional support with pancreatic enzyme replacement and education about medication adherence and diet.
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Background/Aims@#There has been growing evidence on the utility of neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX in borderline resectable (BR) or locally advanced (LA) pancreatic cancer. However, factors predicting survival in these patients remain to be identified, and we aimed to identify these prognostic factors. @*Methods@#Between January 2013 and April 2017, patients with BR or LA pancreatic cancer who received FOLFIRINOX as their initial treatment were identified. Demographic data and clinical outcomes, including the chemotherapy response, conversion to resection, and survival, were reviewed. @*Results@#A total of 117 patients with BR (n=39) or LA (n=78) pancreatic cancer were included. Of these patients, 29 (24.8%) underwent curative surgery, and R0 resection was achieved in 21 patients (72.4%). The median progression-free survival and overall survival time of all patients were 11.6 and 19.0 months, respectively. In resected patients, the median relapse-free survival and overall survival times were 14.8 and 28.6 months, respectively. In the multivariate Cox model, the lowest level of serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) and resection after FOLFIRINOX were independent factors for improved overall survival. In the subgroup analysis of patients with initial 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) images, the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the pancreatic mass was also shown as an independent factor for improved overall survival. @*Conclusions@#In patients with BR or LA pancreatic cancer, FOLFIRINOX is a valuable neoadjuvant treatment that enables curative surgery in approximately one-quarter of patients and significantly improves overall survival. In these patients, the prognosis can be estimated using the lowest level of serum CA 19-9, operative status, and initial FDG-PET SUVmax.
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Purpose@#Diagnostic biomarkers of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have been used for early detection to reduce its dismal survival rate. However, clinically feasible biomarkers are still rare. Therefore, in this study, we developed an automated multi-marker enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit using 3 biomarkers (leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein [LRG1], transthyretin [TTR], and CA 19-9) that were previously discovered and proposed a diagnostic model for PDAC based on this kit for clinical usage. @*Methods@#Individual LRG1, TTR, and CA 19-9 panels were combined into a single automated ELISA panel and tested on 728 plasma samples, including PDAC (n = 381) and normal samples (n = 347). The consistency between individual panels of 3 biomarkers and the automated multi-panel ELISA kit were accessed by correlation. The diagnostic model was developed using logistic regression according to the automated ELISA kit to predict the risk of pancreatic cancer (high-, intermediate-, and low-risk groups). @*Results@#The Pearson correlation coefficient of predicted values between the triple-marker automated ELISA panel and the former individual ELISA was 0.865. The proposed model provided reliable prediction results with a positive predictive value of 92.05%, negative predictive value of 90.69%, specificity of 90.69%, and sensitivity of 92.05%, which all simultaneously exceed 90% cutoff value. @*Conclusion@#This diagnostic model based on the triple ELISA kit showed better diagnostic performance than previous markers for PDAC. In the future, it needs external validation to be used in the clinic.
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BACKGROUND@#An acute upper respiratory tract infection (URI) is the most common disease worldwide, irrespective of age or sex. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effect of diurnal temperature range (DTR) on emergency room (ER) visits for URI in Seoul, Korea, between 2009 and 2013.@*METHODS@#Daily ER visits for URI were selected from the National Emergency Department Information System, which is a nationwide daily reporting system for ER visits in Korea. URI cases were defined according to International Classification of Diseases, 10@*RESULTS@#There were 529,527 ER visits for URI during the study period, with a daily mean of 290 visits (range, 74-1942 visits). The mean daily DTR was 8.05 °C (range, 1.1-17.6 °C). The cumulative day (lag 02) effect of DTR above 6.57 °C per 1 °C increment was associated with a 1.42% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04-2.82) increase in total URI. Children (≤ 5 years of age) were affected by DTR above 6.57 °C per 1 °C, with 1.45% (95% CI 0.32-2.60) at lag 02, adults (19-64 years) with 2.77% (95% CI 0.39-5.20) at lag 07. When the DTR (lag02) was 6.57 °C to 11.03 °C, the relative risk was significant at 6.01% (95% CI 2.45-9.69) for every 1 °C increase in youth subjects aged for 6 to 18 years.@*CONCLUSIONS@#DTR was associated with a higher risk for ER visits for URI. In addition, the results suggested that the lag effects and relative risks of DTR on URI were quite different according to age.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Acute Disease/epidemiology , Cold Temperature/adverse effects , Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Hot Temperature/adverse effects , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Respiratory Tract Infections/etiologyABSTRACT
Background/Aims@#Although many studies have reported the promising effect of neoadjuvant treatment for borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) to increase resectability, only a few studies have recommended the use of first-line chemotherapeutic agents as neoadjuvant treatment for BRPC. The current study compared clinical outcomes between gemcitabine and FOLFIRINOX (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan) in patients with BRPC. @*Methods@#In this single-center retrospective study, 100 BRPC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and resection from 2008 to 2018 were reviewed. Clinical outcomes included overall survival, resectability, and recurrence patterns after gemcitabine or FOLFIRINOX treatment. @*Results@#For neoadjuvant chemotherapy, gemcitabine was administered to 34 patients and FOLFIRINOX to 66. Neoadjuvant radiotherapy was administered to 27 patients (79.4%) treated with gemcitabine and 19 (28.8%) treated with FOLFIRINOX (p<0.001). The 2- and 5-year survival rates (YSRs) were significantly higher after FOLFIRINOX (2YSR, 72.2%; 5YSR, 46.0%) than after gemcitabine (2YSR, 58.4%; 5YSR, 19.1%; p=0.041). The margin negative rate was comparable (gemcitabine, 94.1%; FOLFIRINOX, 92.4%; p=0.753), and the tumor size change in percentage showed only a marginal difference (gemcitabine, 20.5%; FOLFIRINOX, 29.0%; p=0.069). Notably, the metastatic recurrence rate was significantly lower in the FOLFIRINOX group (n=20, 52.6%) than in the gemcitabine group (n=22, 78.6%; p=0.001). The rate of adverse events after chemotherapy was significantly higher with FOLFIRINOX than with gemcitabine (43.9%, 20.6%, respectively; p=0.037). @*Conclusions@#FOLFIRINOX provided more clinical and oncological benefit than gemcitabine, with significantly higher overall survival and lower cumulative recurrence rates in BRPC. However, since FOLFIRINOX causes more adverse effects, the regimen should be individualized based on patient’s general condition and clinical status.