Can a Total Knee System Providing 1 mm Increment of Polyethylene Insert Thickness Offer a Clinical Benefit?

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes and polyethylene (PE) insert thickness between total knee arthroplasty (TKA) systems providing 1 mm and 2 mm increments. Materials and Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 50 patients (100 knees) undergoing same-day or staggered bilateral TKA were randomized to receive a TKA system providing 1 mm increments in one knee (1 mm group) and a TKA system providing 2 mm increments in the other knee (2 mm group). At 2 years postoperatively, Knee Society Score (KSS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score, Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), range of motion (ROM), and insert thicknesses were compared between the groups. Results: A total of 47 patients (94 knees) participated in follow-up analysis. In each group, patient-reported outcomes improved significantly after TKA (all, p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in patient-reported outcomes. The mean ROM was not significantly different between groups at preoperative and 2-year points. The rate of postoperative flexion contracture ≥ 5° was 2.1% and 4.3%, and the rate of postoperative recurvatum ≥ 5° was 4.3% and 2.1% in the 1 mm group and 2 mm, respectively (all, p = 1.000). Mean insert thickness was significantly thinner in the 1 mm group than the 2 mm group (p = 0.001). The usage rate of a thick insert (≥14 mm) was 12.7% and 38.3% in the 1 mm group and 2 mm group (p = 0.005). Conclusions: The use of a TKA system providing 1 mm PE insert thickness increments offered no clinical benefit in terms of patient reported outcomes over systems with 2 mm increments at 2 years of follow-up. However, the TKA system with 1 mm increments showed significantly thinner PE insert usage. As a theoretical advantage of 1 mm increments has yet to be proven, the mid- to long-term effects of thinner PE insert usage must be determined.

Comparison of in-situ release and submuscular anterior transposition of ulnar nerve for refractory cubital tunnel syndrome, previously treated with subfascial anterior transfer-A retrospective study of 24 cases.

BACKGROUND: Although cubital tunnel syndrome is the second most common type of compressive neuropathy in the upper extremities, the indication and optimal surgical method for recurrent or refractory cubital tunnel syndrome remains controversial. This study evaluates the functional outcomes of revision surgery for cubital tunnel syndrome. MATERIAL & METHODS: This study was a retrospective observational multicenter single-institution study including 660 patients who underwent surgery for cubital tunnel syndrome from 2010 to 2019. Among the 660 patients, 42(6.4%) received revision surgery due to remaining or recurrent symptoms confirmed with electromyography(EMG). After excluding those with concurrent elbow fracture, dislocation, osteoarthritis and wound infection, a total of 24 patients were included in the study. The patients were evaluated of disease severity, revision surgical method, time interval to recurrence, underlying diseases and postoperative functional outcomes. RESULTS: All patients received ulnar nerve subfascial anterior transposition for the initial cubital tunnel syndrome surgery. Among the 24 patients (3.7%) who received revision surgery, nine received in situ neurolysis, 12 received submuscular transposition, and three received subcutaneous transfer. 21 patients (88%) reported improved mean VAS score of 4.3, while three patients complained of remaining symptoms that did not improve even after revision surgery. The patients with remaining symptoms all had underlying diabetes mellitus and were treated with subcutaneous transfer. The difference of surgical outcomes between the in situ neurolysis group and the nerve transfer groups were non-significant (p = 0.23). The most common cause of recurrent or persistent symptoms was adhesion and fibrosis at sling area. The mean follow up period before revision surgery was 26.3 months and postoperative follow up period after revision surgery was 8.5 months. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of this study imply that in-situ neurolysis may be as effective as anterior submuscular transfer of ulnar nerve for refractory cubital tunnel syndrome after anterior subfascial transfer.

A Study of High-Sensitivity Electro-Resistance Type Pre-Annealing ZnO-Doped CsPbBr3 Perovskite Acetone Sensors.

In this work, acetone gas sensors were fabricated using pre-annealing metal oxide zinc oxide (pa-ZnO)-doped perovskite cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3). The ZnO nanopowder, before it was doped into CsPbBr3 solution, was first put into a furnace to anneal at different temperatures, and formed the pa-ZnO. The properties of pa-ZnO were different from ZnO. The optimized doping conditions were 2 mg of pa-ZnO nanopowder and pre-annealing at 300 °C. Under these conditions, the highest sensitivity (gas signal current-to-air background current ratio) of the ZnO-doped CsPbBr3 perovskite acetone sensor was 1726. In addition, for the limit test, 100 ppm was the limit of detection of the ZnO-doped CsPbBr3 perovskite acetone sensor and the sensitivity was 101.

Remote cognitive behavioral therapy for older adults with anxiety symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: In-person cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can reduce self-reported anxiety in older adults. However, studies are limited for remote CBT. We assessed the effectiveness of remote CBT in mitigating self-reported anxiety in older adults. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis based on a literature search of PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, and Cochrane databases up to March 31, 2021, for randomized controlled clinical trials comparing the effectiveness of remote CBT versus non-CBT controls on mitigating self-reported anxiety in older adults. We calculated within-group pre-to-post-treatment standardized mean difference using Cohen's d, obtained the difference between a remote CBT group and a non-CBT control group as our effect size for cross-study comparison, and conducted a random-effects meta-analysis. Changes in scores on self-reported anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 item Scale, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, or Penn State Worry Questionnaire - Abbreviated), and self-reported depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item Scale or Beck Depression Inventory) were primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. RESULTS: Six eligible studies, containing 633 participants with a pooled mean age of 66.6 years, were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. There was a significant mitigating effect of intervention on self-reported anxiety, favoring remote CBT over non-CBT controls (between-group effect size: -0.63; 95% CI: -0.99 to -0.28). We also found a significant mitigating effect of intervention on self-reported depressive symptoms (between-group effect size: -0.74; 95% CI: -1.24 to -0.25). DISCUSSION: Remote CBT is more effective in reducing self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms than non-CBT control in older adults.

Comparing short-term outcomes after totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with Billroth I anastomosis: early experience of a single institution

Purpose@#To determine the safety and feasibility of totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) with modified delta-shaped anastomosis, we compared the short-term outcomes of TLDG to those of laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with Billroth I anastomosis. @*Methods@#We analyzed the characteristics of 85 patients with gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with Billroth I anastomosis between January 2013 and December 2018. After propensity score matching, each group had 35 patients. @*Results@#Of these 85 patients, 44 underwent TLDG and 41 underwent LADG. Propensity score matching was performed with three covariates (age, underlying disease, and hypertension), and 35 patients from each group were matched 1:1. After matching, the TLDG group was older than the LADG group (64.5 ± 10.6 years vs. 56.3 ± 11.2 years, p = 0.003) and had more patients with hypertension (57.1% vs. 22.9%,p = 0.003).Tumors were larger in the TLDG group than in the LADG group (23.4 ± 16.2 mm vs. 16.0 ± 7.9 mm, p = 0.018). A greater proportion of patients had fever in the TLDG group than the LADG group (42.9% vs.20.0%, p = 0.039), and C-reactive protein from postoperative days 3 to 6 was greater in the TLDG group (11.4 ± 5.7 mg/dL vs. 7.0 ± 5.0 mg/dL, p = 0.001). @*Conclusion@#Although our data represent only our early experience performing TLDG with modified deltashaped anastomosis, this procedure is relatively safe and feasible. Nevertheless, compared to LADG, which is the conventional method, the operative time for TLDG was longer. Surgeons must also watch out for anastomotic complications

Cricopharyngeal myotomy for delayed Cricopharyngeal dysfunction after head and neck surgery - case report.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck surgeries can perturb normal structures of neck muscles and nerve innervations, which are supposed to function in harmony to allow complicated process like swallowing. It is still likely that cricopharyngal dysfunction emerges years after the head and neck surgeries. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case with history of left unilateral vocal cord immobility and development of dysphagia and aspiration 2 years after radical thyroidectomy with neck lymph nodes dissection and medialization thyroplasty. Cricopharyngeal dysfunction was impressed and was confirmed with visualization of cricopharyngeal narrowing segment in radiographic contrast swallow examination. The patient was treated successfully by cricopharyngeal myotomy, achieving long-term relief in our 4 years of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Our case of delayed cricopharyngal dysfunction after radical thyroidectomy and medialization thyroplasty shows that it is important to follow up swallowing functions after patients with UVCI undergo medialization thyroplasty. In the event of delayed manifestation of cricopharyngeal function, it can still be treated successfully by cricoharyngeal myotomy, achieving long term relief of dysphagia.

Feasibility of Using Fat Degeneration of Lumbar Extensor Muscle as an Alternative Diagnostic Criterion for Sarcopenia in Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures.

STUDY DESIGN: Feasibility study. PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of using fat degeneration of lumbar extensor muscle (LEM) as an alternative diagnostic criterion for sarcopenia in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Although sarcopenia has been gaining increased attention among researchers and healthcare practitioners, there is uncertainty about the association between sarcopenia and fat degeneration of LEM. METHODS: In this study, 33 patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures (group 1) and 29 patients without such fractures (group 2) were enrolled. Sarcopenia was diagnosed in accordance with the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria, including assessment of extremity muscle mass using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, grip strength, and gait speed. The bone mineral density and fat degeneration of LEM were investigated using magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: The mean rates of fat degeneration of LEM and the skeletal muscle index were 38.3% and 5.5 kg/m2 in group 1 and 28.9% and 6.3 kg/m2 in group 2, respectively. The fat degeneration of LEM was negatively correlated with gait speed (r=-0.44, p=0.01) and handgrip strength (r=-0.37, p=0.01). The fat degeneration of LEM also demonstrated a significant relationship with osteoporotic vertebral fractures (p=0.01). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis between fat degeneration of LEM and osteoporotic vertebral fractures showed that the cut-off value of fat degeneration was 31.9% (sensitivity=0.67, specificity=0.66). There was a positive correlation between sarcopenia defined by the AWGS and that defined by the 31.90% cut-off value of fat degeneration of LEM instead of extremity muscle mass (r=0.46, p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the feasibility of using fat degeneration of LEM as an alternative diagnostic criterion for sarcopenia in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. A cut-off value of fat degeneration of LEM of 31.9% was shown to be useful for diagnosing osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Selecting Arthroplasty Fixation Approach Based on Greater Trochanter Fracture Type in Unstable Intertrochanteric Fractures.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the success rate of fixation approaches for greater trochanter (GT) fracture types in those with unstable intertrochnateric fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four patients who underwent arthroplasty for unstable intertrochanteric fractures between January 2015 and November 2017 and followed-up more than six months were included in this study. The fractures of GT were classified into one of four types (i.e., A, B, C, and D) and fixed using either figure-8 wiring or cerclage wiring according to fracture type. Fractures were type A (n=7), type B (n=20), type C (n=6), and type D (n=11). Type A and B, which are fractures located above the inferior border of GT were fixed using figure-8 wiring and/or adding cerclage wiring. On the other hand, all type C and D fractures, which were located below the inferior border, were fixed using cerclage wiring. Fixation failure was defined as breakage of wire and progressive migration of GT fragment greater than 5 mm on follow-up radiographs. RESULTS: The most common GT fracture types were B and D, both of which are longitudinal fractures. The success rates of fixation were 85.7% (6 out of 7 cases) for the treatment of type A, 90.0% (18 out of 20 cases) for the treatment of type B, and 100% for the treatment of types C (6 out of 6 cases) and D (11 out of 11 cases). CONCLUSION: We note high success rates following fixation methods were selected based on the GT fracture type.

Jitter Elimination in Shape Recovery by using Adaptive Neural Network Filter.

Three-dimensional (3D) cameras are expensive because they employ additional charged coupled device sensors and optical elements, e.g., lasers or complicated scanning mirror systems. One passive optical method, shape from focus (SFF), provides an efficient low cost solution for 3D cameras. However, mechanical vibration of the SFF imaging system causes jitter noise along the optical axis, which makes it difficult to obtain accurate shape information of objects. In traditional methods, this error cannot be removed and increases as the estimation of the shape recovery progresses. Therefore, the final 3D shape may be inaccurate. We introduce an accurate depth estimation method using an adaptive neural network (ANN) filter to remove the jitter noise effects. Jitter noise is modeled by both Gaussian distribution and non-Gaussian distribution. Then, focus curves are modeled by quadratic functions. The ANN filter is designed as an optimal estimator restoring the original position of each frame of the input image sequence in the modeled jitter noise, as a pre-processing step before the initial depth map is obtained. The proposed method was evaluated using image sequences of both synthetic and real objects. Experimental results demonstrate that it is reasonably efficient and that its accuracy is comparable with that of existing systems.

Selecting Arthroplasty Fixation Approach Based on Greater Trochanter Fracture Type in Unstable Intertrochanteric Fractures / 대한고관절학회지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the success rate of fixation approaches for greater trochanter (GT) fracture types in those with unstable intertrochnateric fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four patients who underwent arthroplasty for unstable intertrochanteric fractures between January 2015 and November 2017 and followed-up more than six months were included in this study. The fractures of GT were classified into one of four types (i.e., A, B, C, and D) and fixed using either figure-8 wiring or cerclage wiring according to fracture type. Fractures were type A (n=7), type B (n=20), type C (n=6), and type D (n=11). Type A and B, which are fractures located above the inferior border of GT were fixed using figure-8 wiring and/or adding cerclage wiring. On the other hand, all type C and D fractures, which were located below the inferior border, were fixed using cerclage wiring. Fixation failure was defined as breakage of wire and progressive migration of GT fragment greater than 5 mm on follow-up radiographs. RESULTS: The most common GT fracture types were B and D, both of which are longitudinal fractures. The success rates of fixation were 85.7% (6 out of 7 cases) for the treatment of type A, 90.0% (18 out of 20 cases) for the treatment of type B, and 100% for the treatment of types C (6 out of 6 cases) and D (11 out of 11 cases). CONCLUSION: We note high success rates following fixation methods were selected based on the GT fracture type.

Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in management of peritoneal carcinomatosis: Single center experience in Korea

PURPOSE: Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) has been considered a terminal condition and cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIEPC) is regarded as an alternative therapeutic option. This study aimed to evaluate the 30-day clinical outcomes of CRS/HIPEC and the feasibility of the surgery by investigating the morbidity and mortality in Inje University Hospital.METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from 19 patients with PC who underwent CRS/HIPEC at Inje University Hospital in 2018. We evaluated pre-, intra-operative parameters and postoperative clinical outcomes and early complications.RESULTS: The mean operating time was 506.95 minutes and the mean blood loss was 837.11 mL. Six cases (31.58%) had morbidity of grade III or above. A longer operating time (≥560 minutes, P=0.038) and large blood loss (≥700 mL, P=0.060) were positively correlated with grade III or worse postoperative complications.CONCLUSION: Our early experience with CRS/HIPEC resulted in a 31.58% morbidity rate of grade III and above, with risk factors being longer operating time and greater intraoperative blood loss. As the surgical team's skills improve, a shorter operating time with less intraoperative blood loss could result in better short-term outcomes of CRS/HIPEC.

Feasibility of Serum Pentosidine Level as a Potential Risk Factor for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture.

STUDY DESIGN: Feasibility study. PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of using serum pentosidine level as a potential marker for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: A review of previous studies suggests a negative correlation between serum pentosidine concentration and bone strength. However, it is unclear whether serum pentosidine level might be a potential marker of OVCF in Koreans. METHODS: Forty patients who underwent bone mineral density examination were included in this study, and their serum pentosidine levels were prospectively analyzed. Serum pentosidine level was evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Among all the patients, 11 with OVCF were assigned to the vertebral fracture group and 29 who did not have vertebral fracture were included in the non-fracture group. In addition, we used the Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX) tool Korean version for assessing the 10-year probability of fracture. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the mean serum pentosidine level (p=0.04) of the vertebral fracture group (110.8 ng/mL) and the non-fracture group (64.3 ng/mL). Logistic regression analyses showed that serum pentosidine was significantly associated with OVCF. The vertebral fracture group had significantly higher 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fracture as per FRAX than the non-fracture group. There was a positive correlation between pentosidine level and FRAX results (r=0.35, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that increased serum pentosidine level could be a potential marker for OVCF.

Relationship between Lumbar Extensor Muscle Degeneration Classification and Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the reliability of the lumbar extensor muscle degeneration classification as an indicator of potential risk for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF).SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Fatty degeneration of lumbar extensor muscles has attracted increased interest in the literature as a risk factor for OVCF.@*MATERIALS AND METHODS@#Ninety-one patients with OVCF (group 1) and 60 patients without OVCF (group 2) were investigated. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure and to analyze the muscle mass and fatty degeneration of the lumbar extensor muscle. The degree of fatty degeneration of the lumbar extensor muscle was classified into 4 stages: less than 10%, 10%–25%, 25%–50%, and more than 50%.@*RESULTS@#Fatty degeneration of the lumbar extensor muscle and the bone mineral density T-score were 29.66%±12.28% and −3.56±1.13 in group 1 and 24.04%±13.29% and −2.27±1.46 in group 2, which were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that as the fatty degeneration of the lumbar extensor muscle increased, the risk of OVCF increased (odds ratio [OR]=1.21; p=0.01). The risk of OVCF increased as the lumbar extensor muscle degeneration classification scores increased (OR=13.53; p=0.02). Furthermore, as the muscle mass of the multifidus decreased, lumbar lordosis and sacral inclination decreased (β=0.33; p=0.01 and β=0.25; p=0.04, respectively). However, no factor affected thoracic kyphosis.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Fatty degeneration of the lumbar extensor muscle was correlated with OVCF. A lumbar extensor muscle degeneration classification higher than stage 3 should be considered a risk factor of OVCF.

Relationship between Lumbar Extensor Muscle Degeneration Classification and Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the reliability of the lumbar extensor muscle degeneration classification as an indicator of potential risk for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF). SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Fatty degeneration of lumbar extensor muscles has attracted increased interest in the literature as a risk factor for OVCF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-one patients with OVCF (group 1) and 60 patients without OVCF (group 2) were investigated. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure and to analyze the muscle mass and fatty degeneration of the lumbar extensor muscle. The degree of fatty degeneration of the lumbar extensor muscle was classified into 4 stages: less than 10%, 10%–25%, 25%–50%, and more than 50%. RESULTS: Fatty degeneration of the lumbar extensor muscle and the bone mineral density T-score were 29.66%±12.28% and −3.56±1.13 in group 1 and 24.04%±13.29% and −2.27±1.46 in group 2, which were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that as the fatty degeneration of the lumbar extensor muscle increased, the risk of OVCF increased (odds ratio [OR]=1.21; p=0.01). The risk of OVCF increased as the lumbar extensor muscle degeneration classification scores increased (OR=13.53; p=0.02). Furthermore, as the muscle mass of the multifidus decreased, lumbar lordosis and sacral inclination decreased (β=0.33; p=0.01 and β=0.25; p=0.04, respectively). However, no factor affected thoracic kyphosis. CONCLUSIONS: Fatty degeneration of the lumbar extensor muscle was correlated with OVCF. A lumbar extensor muscle degeneration classification higher than stage 3 should be considered a risk factor of OVCF.

Two-Photon Probes for pH: Detection of Human Colon Cancer using Two-Photon Microscopy.

We have developed two-photon (TP) pH-sensitive probes (BH-2 and BHEt-1) that exhibit absorption and emission maxima at 370 and 466 nm, and TP absorption cross-section values of 51 and 61 GM (1 GM = 10-50cm4s/photon), respectively, at 750 nm and pH 3.0 in a universal buffer (0.1 M citric acid, 0.1 M KH2PO4, 0.1 M Na2B4O7, 0.1 M Tris, 0.1 M KCl)/1,4-dioxane (7/3) solution. The TPM images of CCD-18co (a normal colon cell line) and HCT116 cells (a colon cancer cell line) labeled with BH-2 were too dim to be distinguished. When the same cells were labeled with BHEt-1, however, the TPM image of the HCT116 cells was much brighter than that of CCD-18co cells, and the relative proportion of the acidic vesicles (Pacid) of the former was 5-fold larger than that of latter. BHEt-1 could also differentiate HepG2 cells (a human liver cancer cell line) from LX-2 cells (a human hepatic stellate cell line) with a 6-fold larger Pacid value. Human colon cancer tissues labeled with BHEt-1 showed similar results, demonstrating much brighter TPM images and 6-fold larger Pacid values compared to normal tissue. These results suggest the potential utility of BHEt-1 for detecting colon cancer in human tissues using TPM.

Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of remnant gastric cancer

PURPOSE: Remnant gastric cancer is defined as a malignant tumor developing on the remnant side of stomach after partial gastrectomy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of remnant gastric cancer according to the cause and the reconstruction method of previous surgery.METHODS: Between January 2007 and February 2016, we analyzed 39 patients with their medical records who were diagnosed as remnant gastric cancer and underwent gastrectomy at Inje University Busan Paik Hospital.RESULTS: In the comparison of malignant disease (MD) and benign diseases (BD) group, the Billroth I:Billroth II ratio was 52.2% and 12.5%. The time interval from the previous operation to the diagnosis of remnant gastric cancer (RGC) was shorter in the MD group than in the BD group (6.6±6.04 vs. 34.7±10.12 years). Comparing B1 and B2 group, the proportion of patients previously undergone surgery due to MD was 85.7% and 44%. The time interval was higher in the B1 group than in the B2 group (8.0±8.78 vs. 23.8±16.48 years). Analyzing prognostic factors of survival, age and the presence of symptoms at the time of RGC diagnosis, and curability of surgery had a significant effect on the survival of the patients (P=0.032, hazard ratio [HR]=5.241, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.158–23.723; P=0.005, HR=5.086, 95% CI, 1.642–15.750; P=0.034, HR=3.165, 95% CI, 1.088–9.208).CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent partial gastrectomy for benign or MD require regular endoscopic follow-up and appropriate surgical approach is essential for the treatment of RGC.

Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal hernia repair of fallopian tube indirect inguinal hernia in reproductive aged woman: a case report

An indirect inguinal hernia containing the fallopian tube alone is extremely rare in reproductive-aged women without any genital tract anomalies. Despite this rarity, early diagnosis and adequate management is important to prevent strangulation and recurrence. We present a case of an indirect inguinal hernia containing only the fallopian tube in the hernia sac, which was successfully reduced by using a laparoscopic total extraperitoneal approach and repaired with a polypropylene mesh.

Difference in Tumor Area as a Predictor of a Pathological Complete Response for Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to discover the clinical factors that can predict pathologically complete remission (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT), so that those factors may help in deciding on a treatment program for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. METHODS: A total of 137 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were retrospectively enrolled in this study, and data were collected retrospectively. The patients had undergone a total mesorectal excision after neoadjuvant CRT. Histologic response was categorized as pCR vs. non-pCR. The tumor area was defined as (tumor length) × (maximum tumor depth). The difference in tumor area was defined as pre-CRT tumor area – post-CRT tumor area. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to find the factors affecting pCR. A P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (16.8%) achieved pCR. On the univariate analysis, endoscopic tumor circumferential rate <50%, low pre-CRT T & N stage, low post-CRT T & N stage, small pretreatment tumor area, and large difference in tumor area before and after neoadjuvant CRT were predictive factors of pCR. A multivariate analysis found that only the difference in tumor area before and after neoadjuvant CRT was an independent predictor of pCR (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The difference in tumor area, as determined using radiologic tools, before and after neoadjuvant CRT may be important predictor of pCR. This clinical factor may help surgeons to determine which patients who received neoadjuvant CRT for locally advanced rectal cancer should undergo surgery.

Oncologic safety of self-expanded metal stent insertion as a bridge to elective surgery in malignant colorectal obstruction

PURPOSE: Colorectal obstruction develops most frequently by carcinoma, and 7%–30% of these colorectal carcinomas are acute cases. The oncologic safety of self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) insertion as a bridge to surgery has not yet been established. Thus, we investigated the oncologic safety of SEMS insertion as a bridge to surgery in patients with obstructive colorectal cancer.METHODS: This retrospective had 56 patients enrolled requiring emergency management for obstructive colorectal cancer at stage II or III, who had undergone curative surgery between July 2008 and June 2011. These subjects were divided into two groups: patients who had undergone emergency surgery without SEMS insertion (non-stent group) and those who had undergone elective surgery after preoperative decompression with SEMS insertion (stent group). The two groups were compared for clinicopathologic characteristics, postoperative complications, and survival rate.RESULTS: Enterostomy was performed in 25 patients (100.0%) in the non-stent group and 1 patient (3.2%) in the stent group; laparoscopic surgery was carried out in 7 patients (28.0%) in the non-stent group and 19 patients (61.29%) in the stent group, each showing statistically significant differences. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complications and 5-year disease-free survival rate (72% vs. 74.19%, P=0.87, respectively).CONCLUSION: In treatment of malignant colorectal obstruction, elective operation after stent insertion had similar oncologic outcomes compared with emergency operation. Preoperative stent insertion not only lowers the incidence of enterostomy but also makes laparoscopic surgery possible, thereby enhancing patients' quality of life. Therefore, preoperative stent insertion is a useful method that may replace emergency surgery in treatment of malignant colorectal obstruction.

Eribulin Mesylate Combined with Local Treatment for Brain Metastasis from Breast Cancer: Two Case Reports / 한국유방암학회지

The prognosis associated with brain metastasis arising from breast cancer is very poor. Eribulin is a microtubule dynamic inhibitor synthesized from halichondrin B, a natural marine product. In a phase III study (EMBRACE), eribulin improved overall survival in patients with heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancers. However, these studies included few patients with brain metastases. Metastatic brain tumors (MBT) were detected during first-line palliative chemotherapy in a 43-year-old woman with breast cancer metastasis to the lung and mediastinal nodes; the genetic subtype was luminal B-like human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative. Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) followed by eribulin treatment continuously decreased the size, and induced regression, of the MBT with systemic disease stability for 12 months. Another 48-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer (HER2+ subtype) presented with MBT. Following surgical resection of the tumor, eribulin with concurrent WBRT showed regression of the MBT without systemic progression for 18 months.