Pathologic View of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm / 대한췌담도학회지

Among pancreatic cystic lesions, mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas are precursor lesions of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. IPMN is characterized by intraductal papillary proliferation of mucin-producing epithelial cells that exhibit various degrees of dysplasia. IPMN is classified as the main duct type (MD-IPMN), mixed type and the branch duct type (BD-IPMN) according to the location of involvement, and into four histological subtypes (gastric, intestinal, pancreatobiliary, and oncocytic) according to the histomorphological and immunohistochemical characteristics. Most patients with MD-IPMN undergo tumor resection due to moderate to high risk of malignancy. Patients with BD-IPMN who do not undergo resection may develop malignant change, and concomitant separate pancreatic cancer occurs in 2-10% of patients with IPMN. Patients with BD-IPMN who do not undergo resection should do careful surveillance including endoscopic ultrasound sonography for the early detection of malignant change and separate pancreatic cancer.

Decision and Practice of End-of-Life Care in Lung Disease Patients with Physicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment / 한국호스피스완화의료학회지

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to analyze end-of-life care practices in lung disease patients with physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLSTs). @*Methods@#We retrospectively analyzed data from medical records regarding the end-of-life care practices of POLST decisions for patients with lung disease hospitalized at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Data were collected from January 1 to June 30, 2021. @*Results@#Of 300 total patients, 198 had lung cancer (66.0%) and 102 had non-malignant lung diseases (34.0%). A POLST was written for 187 patients (62.3%), and an advance directive was written for 20 patients (6.7%). Subsequent treatments were hemodialysis in 13 patients (4.3%), surgery in 3 patients (1.0%), and cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation in 1 patient (0.3%). Among cancer patients, chemotherapy was performed in 11 patients (3.7%), targeted therapy in 11 patients (3.7%), immunotherapy in 6 patients (2.0%), and radiation therapy in 13 patients (4.3%). Depending on the type of lung disease, types of treatment differed, including hemodialysis, ventilators, bilevel positive airway pressure, high-flow nasal cannulas, nebulizers, enteral nutrition, central line, inotropic agents, and opioids. onclusion: Although the goals of hospice care are the same whether a patient has lung cancer or a nonmalignant lung disease, because the characteristics of the respective diseases differ, end-oflife care practices and hospice approaches must be considered differently.

Effects of Ponderal Index on Neonatal Mortality and Morbidities in Extremely Premature Infants

Background@#To evaluate how intrauterine stress affects extremely premature infants in terms of intrauterine growth restriction. We hypothesized that extremely premature infants with mildly-low ponderal index (MPI) would have better neonatal outcomes. @*Methods@#We selected 2,721 subjects of 23 to 28 weeks of gestation between 2013 and 2015 from Korean Neonatal Network database. They were divided into 4 groups based on ponderal index (PI) percentile; PI ≤ 3rd as severely-low PI (SPI, n = 82), 3rd 90th as high PI (HPI, n = 270). @*Results@#The mortality in MPI and API groups was comparable (16.3% vs. 16.9%). It was significantly lower than that in the SPI and HPI groups (30.5% and 24.9%, respectively;P = 0.001). The MPI and API groups had better neonatal morbidities compared with the SPI and/or HPI groups, while the MPI group (8.2%) showed a lower incidence of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) than the other groups (SPI, 21.3%; API, 15.0%; HPI, 19.7%, respectively; P = 0.004). The MPI group had a trend of a bottom in neonatal mortality and morbidities in extremely premature infants. @*Conclusion@#The MPI and API groups had lower mortality, massive pulmonary hemorrhage, severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia or death, pulmonary hypertension and neonatal seizure rates than the SPI and/or HPI groups, while the MPI group showed a lower incidence of severe IVH than the other groups. We speculate that the lower incidence of neonatal morbidities and mortality in the MPI group indicating mild intrauterine stress might accelerate fetal maturation resulting in better outcomes in extremely premature infants.

Vaginal health in women and the possibility of predicting preterm birth through microbiome analysis

With the recent development of next-generation sequencing technology, the microbiome in the body is being revealed in detail. It is also possible to describe the normal vaginal microenvironment and, more specifically, any changes in pregnancy. Moreover, we present the hypothesis that the microbiome is a contributing factor to preterm birth (PTB).Current Concepts: High estrogen status stimulates the maturation and proliferation of vaginal epithelial cells and the accumulation of glycogen, which promotes lactic acid production and maintains the vaginal environment at an acidic pH. The vaginas of most premenopausal women are predominantly colonized by Lactobacillus which plays an important role in local defense. Recently, it has also been reported that there are several specific types of Lactobacillus species, while other anaerobes, including Gardnerella and Atopobium also coexist in the vagina. Vaginal dysbiosis is defined as various expressions of microorganisms, secretion of specific metabolites, and changes in pH. During pregnancy, a multitude of microbiome changes occur in the oral cavity, gut, vagina, and placenta. The risk of PTB increases if the microbiome changes to one of dysbiosis. It is possible to analyze the characteristic microbiome composition related to PTB and to develop biomarkers predicting PTB. It is necessary to educate patients based on these findings.Discussion and Conclusion: Microbiome analysis has contributed significantly to understanding the association between women’s vaginal health and PTB. Continued research will also contribute to public health by assisting in the prediction and prevention of PTB.

Standardization of the pathologic diagnosis of appendiceal mucinous neoplasms

Although the understanding of appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (AMNs) and their relationship with disseminated peritoneal mucinous disease have advanced, the diagnosis, classification, and treatment of AMNs are still confusing for pathologists and clinicians. The Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists (GPSG-KSP) proposed a multicenter study and held a workshop for the “Standardization of the Pathologic Diagnosis of the Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm” to overcome the controversy and potential conflicts. The present article is focused on the diagnostic criteria, terminologies, tumor grading, pathologic staging, biologic behavior, treatment, and prognosis of AMNs and disseminated peritoneal mucinous disease. In addition, GPSG-KSP proposes a checklist of standard data elements of appendiceal epithelial neoplasms to standardize pathologic diagnosis. We hope the present article will provide pathologists with updated knowledge on how to handle and diagnose AMNs and disseminated peritoneal mucinous disease.

Standardization of the pathologic diagnosis of appendiceal mucinous neoplasms

Although the understanding of appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (AMNs) and their relationship with disseminated peritoneal mucinous disease have advanced, the diagnosis, classification, and treatment of AMNs are still confusing for pathologists and clinicians. The Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists (GPSG-KSP) proposed a multicenter study and held a workshop for the “Standardization of the Pathologic Diagnosis of the Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm” to overcome the controversy and potential conflicts. The present article is focused on the diagnostic criteria, terminologies, tumor grading, pathologic staging, biologic behavior, treatment, and prognosis of AMNs and disseminated peritoneal mucinous disease. In addition, GPSG-KSP proposes a checklist of standard data elements of appendiceal epithelial neoplasms to standardize pathologic diagnosis. We hope the present article will provide pathologists with updated knowledge on how to handle and diagnose AMNs and disseminated peritoneal mucinous disease.

Progress in the mechanisms of response to different oxygen concentrations in Caenorhabditis elegans / 生理学报

Oxygen levels are unequal in different living geographical locations of human and related to normal physiology of health. The reduction of oxygen level in the body can lead to a variety of diseases, such as stroke caused by cerebral ischemia and hypoxia. In the recent years, many studies have elucidated the molecular and cellular mechanisms of organism response to different oxygen concentrations by using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as model organism. C. elegans can escape hypoxia or hyperoxia and adapt to the ambient oxygen environments, and there are different response and regulation mechanisms in different degrees of hypoxia environment. In this paper, recent advances in the reaction of nematodes to different oxygen concentrations and the underlying mechanism were reviewed.

Implementing Medical Education Continuous Quality Improvement Using Design‐Based Research / 의학교육논단

The goal of this study is to present efficient measures to improve the quality of medical education through using a developed and applied continuous quality improvement (CQI) model suitable for medical education.To achieve this purpose, we developed a theoretical CQI model through a review of the literature according to the design-based research method. Through repetitive productive cyclical processes and professional reviews, we finally deduced an appropriate CQI model for medical education. The most important results of this study are as follows: First, the CQI model for medical education is defined as a quality management system with a cyclical course of planning, implementation, evaluation, and improvement of medical education.Second, the CQI model for medical education is composed of quality management activities of educational design, work, and evaluation. In addition, each activity has the implementation strategies of planning, doing, checking, and improving based on the PDCA model (Plan-Do-Check-Act model). Third, the CQI model for medical school education is composed of committees related to medical education doing improvement activities, as well as planning, implementing and evaluating it with CQI. As a result, we can improve teaching by using the CQI model for medical education. It is more meaningful because this gives us organized and practical measures of quality management and improvement in medical education as well as in the educational process.

Influence of intravascular ultrasound on the prognosis of patients after rotational atherectomy / 医学研究生学报

ObjectiveThe development of new endovascular imaging techniques has optimized surgical treatment strategies. In this paper, we investigated the effect of rotational atherectomy (RA) guided by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) on long-term postoperative follow-ups.MethodsClinical data of 211 patients who underwent RA in the Department of Cardiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from November 2011 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, and they were divided into IVUS Group (116 patients) and Non-IVUS Group (95 patients) according to whether they underwent the guidance of intravascular ultrasound or not. Basic information of all patients, coronary artery lesions and details of operation and other clinical data were collected. The long-term prognosis of the patients was collected and compared by telephone or outpatient follow-ups.ResultsThe head diameter, average stent diameter and total hospitalization expenses of the IVUS Group were significantly higher than those of the Non-IVUS Group, and the differences were statistically significant [(1.53±0.19) mm vs (1.46±0.14) mm, P=0.001; (3.09±0.48) mm vs (2.87±0.30) mm, P0.05). Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that the cardiogenic mortality was significantly reduced in the IVUS Group (HR=0.10, 95%CI: 0.02~0.63, P=0.014), but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of all-cause death and long-term MACE (P>0.05).ConclusionCompared with the Non-IVUS Group, IVUS-guided RA can significantly reduce the incidence of long-term cardiogenic death and total hospitalization expenses.

Influence of intravascular ultrasound on the prognosis of patients after rotational atherectomy / 医学研究生学报

ObjectiveThe development of new endovascular imaging techniques has optimized surgical treatment strategies. In this paper, we investigated the effect of rotational atherectomy (RA) guided by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) on long-term postoperative follow-ups.MethodsClinical data of 211 patients who underwent RA in the Department of Cardiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from November 2011 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, and they were divided into IVUS Group (116 patients) and Non-IVUS Group (95 patients) according to whether they underwent the guidance of intravascular ultrasound or not. Basic information of all patients, coronary artery lesions and details of operation and other clinical data were collected. The long-term prognosis of the patients was collected and compared by telephone or outpatient follow-ups.ResultsThe head diameter, average stent diameter and total hospitalization expenses of the IVUS Group were significantly higher than those of the Non-IVUS Group, and the differences were statistically significant [(1.53±0.19) mm vs (1.46±0.14) mm, P=0.001; (3.09±0.48) mm vs (2.87±0.30) mm, P0.05). Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that the cardiogenic mortality was significantly reduced in the IVUS Group (HR=0.10, 95%CI: 0.02~0.63, P=0.014), but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of all-cause death and long-term MACE (P>0.05).ConclusionCompared with the Non-IVUS Group, IVUS-guided RA can significantly reduce the incidence of long-term cardiogenic death and total hospitalization expenses.

Relationship between p38 signaling pathway and periodontal ligament fibroblasts secreting inflammatory factors under static pressure / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: p38 MAPK pathway has been shown to play an important role in the synthesis of inflammatory factors, but the relationship between p38 MAPK signaling pathway and interleukin 17, interleukin 6 and other inflammatory factors in periodontal ligament fibroblasts during orthodontic tooth movement is little reported. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of the expression of inflammatory cytokines interleukin 17 and interleukin 6 with p38 MAPK in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts under continuous static pressure, and to explore the effect of p38 MAPK signaling pathway on the expression of interleukin 17 and interleukin 6. METHODS: The periodontal tissues of fresh first and second premolars were obtained from the removed teeth of the orthodontic patients aged 11-15 years (informed consent had been obtained). Periodontal ligament fibroblasts were cultured in vitro, and the cell model loaded with gravity was established. Cell culture plates were loaded with 0, 1, 2 and 4 g/cm2 pressure for 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes, respectively. The expression of p38 MAPK protein was detected. The passage 4 cells were seeded, and then randomized into six groups: blank, dimethyl sulfoxide, inhibitor (p38 MAPK blocker, SB203580), loading, loading plus dimethyl sulfoxide, and loading plus inhibitor groups. The intervention lasted for 60 minutes. The interleukin 17 and interleukin 6 protein and mRNA levels in periodontal ligament fibroblasts after loaded with 4 g/cm2 force were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA. RESULTS and CONCLUSION: (1) The expression level of p38 MAPK protein in the 2 and 4 g/cm2 groups was increased with time prolonged, peaked at 30 minutes, and began to decrease at 60 minutes. (2) Compared with the groups without loading, the loading groups showed an increase in the expression levels of interleukin 17 and interleukin 6. The expression level of interleukin 6 in the inhibitor group was down-regulated, and the expression level of interleukin 17 showed no significant difference. (3) To conclude, static pressure can promote human periodontal ligament fibroblasts to secrete interleukin 17 and interleukin 6. Interleukin 6 secretion may be related to p38 MAPK signaling pathway. However, there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that p38 MAPK signaling pathway is involved in periodontal ligament fibroblasts inducing interleukin 17 expression under static pressure.

Bile Granuloma Mimicking Peritoneal Seeding: A Case Report

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a widely used treatment method for most cholelithiasis and is a relatively safe procedure. Foreign body granulomatous reaction to bile or gallstone spillage during laparoscopic cholecystectomy has rarely been reported. We report a case of bile granuloma after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which mimicked peritoneal seeding. A 59-year-old Korean man presented with right upper quadrant pain. He underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis with cholelithiasis. Pathologic examination revealed an incidental adenocarcinoma invading the lamina propria with acute cholecystitis and cholelithiasis. After 3 months, follow-up abdominal computed tomography revealed a subhepatic nodule, which showed hypermetabolism on positron emission tomography–computed tomography. Suspecting localized peritoneal seeding, wedge resection of the liver, wedge resection of the transverse colon, and omentectomy were performed. Pathologic examination of the resected specimens revealed multiple bile granulomas. Awareness of bile granuloma mimicking malignancy is noteworthy for patient management to reduce unnecessary procedure during postoperative surveillance.

Paraovarian Serous Borderline Tumor: A Case Report

Parovarian cyst is usually simple cyst, and accounts for 10%–20% of adnexal masses. Borderline or malignant parovarian tumor is rare, and it contains papillary projection at the smooth inner wall. We report the ultrasonography, CT and MRI findings of a parovarian serous borderline tumor in 19-year-old female presenting left lower quadrant abdominal discomfort for 2 days.

Effects of different concentration of IL-17 on the expression of RANKL and OPG in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts / 重庆医学

Objective To study the effects of different concentration of interleukin(IL)-17 on the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprogeterin (OPG) in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLF) and explore the relationship between IL-17 and orthodontic root resorption.Methods HPDLF cell line was established through the tissue pieces culture method in vitro.HPDLF were stimulated by IL-17 with five different concentrations(0,5,10,20,40 ng/mL) for 24 h.The expression level of mRNA and protein of RANKL and OPG in HPDLF were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA,respectively.Results HPDLF expressed RANKL and OPG in 0 ng/mL group.The expression amount of mRNA and protein of RANKL in HPDLF was positive correlation with the concentration of IL-17 in 0 to 20 ng/mL group.The expression amount of mRNA and protein of OPG was negative correlation with the concentration of IL-17 in 5 to 20 ng/mL group.The ralative RANKL/OPG ratio of mRNA and protein were positive correlation with the concentration of IL-17 in 0 to 20 ng/mL group.Conclusion HPDLF expresses RANKL and OPG in the absence of IL-17.IL-17 enhances the expression of RANKL and inhibits the expression of OPG in HPDLF.

Pancreas Metastasis from Renal Cell Cancer 21 Years after Radial Left Nephrectomy / 대한소화기학회지

No abstract available.

Primary Hepatic Tuberculosis Mimicking Hepatocelluar Carcinoma in Patient with Chronic Viral Hepatitis B and C / 계명의대학술지

Hepatic tuberculosis (TB) is usually associated with pulmonary or miliary TB, but primary hepatic TB is rare less than 1% of all cases of TB. Because hepatic TB lacks typical clinical manifestations as well as typical imaging findings, it is difficult to differentiate TB from the malignancies such as hepatic metastasis, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. A 76-year-old woman was presented with single liver mass detected on routine examination. She was clinically diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and underwent surgical excision of the lesion. However, histologic examination revealed caseous necrotizing granuloma and the PCR test for Myco-bacterium tuberculosis was positive. The final diagnosis was primary hepatic TB. Here we report the case with primary hepatic TB who was initially misdiagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and underwent surgical excision.

Evaluation of the association between pollen count and the outbreak of allergic disease

PURPOSE: This study focused on the evaluation of the relation between pollen concentration and the outbreak of allergic disease (symptom index), and this outcome would be necessary to upgrade risk grade for the pollen forecasting system. METHODS: Airborne particles carrying allergens, such as pollen, were collected daily at the Seoul and Guri area by using 7-day Burkard samplers for 6 years. A total of 596 Subjects were recruited from Hanyang University Seoul Hospital (n=144 for spring, n=139 for autumn), and Hanyang University Guri Hospital (n=157 for spring, n=156 for autumn). Symptom index was evaluated and recorded by phone calling to study subjects daily or asking questionnaire when they visit outpatient clinic every week. Statistical analysis of data was performed by using correlation coefficients and regression models with time series graph. RESULTS: Two peak seasons of pollen concentration were May and September in Korea. In skin prick tests, the sensitization rate to ragweed pollen was gradually increased in children. In the same period, sensitization rates to airborne pollen, especially oak, birch for spring, and Japanese hop for autumn were increased annually. There was a significantly relationship between symptom index of allergic patients and allergic pollen concentrations in this study. Especially symptom index was significantly correlated to the concentration of oak pollen of day 1 in spring and to the concentration of Japanese hop pollen of day 0 in autumn. CONCLUSION: Sensitization rates to pollens increased annually. There is a significant relationship between allergy symptom index and pollen concentration. There remains to confirm the Korean own risk grade of pollen allergy.

Estrogen-related receptor γ is upregulated in liver cancer and its inhibition suppresses liver cancer cell proliferation via induction of p21 and p27

Orphan nuclear receptor estrogen-related receptor γ (ERRγ) regulates cell growth and tumorigenesis in various cancers. However, the clinical relevance of ERRγ to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Here we examined the clinical significance of ERRγ in HCC and its potential as a therapeutic target. ERRγ levels in tissues from completely resected specimens from 190 HCC patients were examined immunohistochemically and their association with clinical stage and pathological grade was analyzed. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of ERRγ (siRNA-ERRγ) or an ERRγ inverse agonist, GSK5182, were also used to examine the effects of ERRγ inhibition on the proliferation and growth of a human hepatoma cell line, PLC/PRF/5. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that tumor tissues showed higher levels of ERRγ-positivity than adjacent non-tumor lesions. Tumors showing high levels of ERRγ immunoreactivity also had advanced tumor node metastasis (TNM) and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stages and a higher Edmondson–Steiner grade. In addition, high-level expression of ERRγ in tumors of advanced TNM stage correlated with poorer overall survival. Treatment of PLC/PRF/5 cells with siRNA-ERRγ or GSK5182 inhibited proliferation through G1 arrest, increased expression of p21 and p27 and decreased expression of phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein. GSK5182-induced reactive oxygen species also suppressed the proliferation of PLC/PRF/5 cells. The present study showed that ERRγ expression is clinically significant in HCC; therefore, it can be considered a biomarker for HCC diagnosis. Moreover, the results provide a rationale for the use of ERRγ inhibitors such as GSK5182 as potential therapeutic agents.

A Hypervascular Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor in the Mediastinum Resected Completely Following Embolization of the Feeding Vessels / 임상소아혈액종양

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are rare tumors of intermediate malignant potential that can occur anywhere in the body. We describe an interesting case of a hypervascular IMT in the mediastinum that could be resected completely following embolization of the feeding vessels. A 17-month-old girl with complaints of cough and fever for 3 months was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large mass in the right hemithorax that shifted the mediastinum to the left. Primary excision was considered but not performed because there was very active capsule wall bleeding due to the hypervascular tumor. After embolization of the feeding vessels, successful complete resection was carried out. Approximately 6 weeks after the operation, follow-up CT scan showed no evidence of recurrent disease. Preoperative embolization is a good option for performing complete resection of hypervascular IMTs that could reduce the recurrence rate.

Clinical Courses of Primary Hepatic Angiosarcoma: Retrospective Analysis of Eight Cases / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatic angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive liver malignancy, is difficult to diagnose because of a lack of specific clinical features. The clinical and radiological features of patients with histologically confirmed hepatic angiosarcoma were examined. METHODS: Among 2,336 patients diagnosed with primary hepatic carcinoma at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center (Daegu, Korea) between May 2002 and February 2012, eight (0.03%) with histologically confirmed primary hepatic angiosarcoma were included. The patterns of disease diagnosis, tumor characteristics, treatment responses, and prognoses were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Median age was 66 years-old (range, 41-80 years). Four patients were male. Five patients were compulsive drinkers. All patients had no HBsAg and anti-HCV. Initial radiologic diagnoses revealed primary hepatic angiosarcoma (n=2), hepatocellular carcinoma (n=2), hemangioma (n=2), and hepatic metastatic carcinoma (n=2). Definitive diagnoses were made by percutaneous needle biopsies in seven patients and surgical resection in one patient. At the time of the initial diagnosis, extrahepatic metastases were detected in three patients (37.5%). Metastatic sites included the spleen and lung, pericardium, and bone, in one patient each. Two patients underwent conservative treatments. The remaining patients underwent surgical resection (n=1), transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (n=1), and systemic chemotherapy (n=4). The median survival period was 214 days (range, 21-431 days). CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic angiosarcoma is a highly progressive disease with a poor prognosis. Detailed studies including histological examinations are essential to facilitate early diagnosis of the disease.