Conditional survival estimate in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B/C hepatocellular carcinoma treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with/without concurrent radiotherapy.

Conditional survival (CS) provides a prognosis of patients who have already survived several years after treatment. We investigated CS in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B/C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with or without concurrent radiotherapy (CRT). A total of 181 patients diagnosed with HCC who were treated with HAIC with or without CRT between 2011 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed.

Association Between Level of Fibrosis, Rather Than Antiviral Regimen, and Outcomes of Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: We performed a propensity-score matched analysis to investigate whether entecavir, compared with lamivudine, can reduce risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B after adjusting for level of fibrosis.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 1079 patients with chronic hepatitis B who received first-line therapy with lamivudine (n = 435) or entecavir (n = 644) from 2006 through 2013. Only patients with available liver stiffness value measured by transient elastography were recruited.

Clinical Benefit of Hepatic Arterial Infusion Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether hepatic arterial infusion concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) could improve overall survival (OS) in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (LAHCC).

Materials And Methods: Two databases were reviewed from Yonsei Cancer Center (YCC) and Korean Liver Cancer Study Group (KLCSG) nationwide multi-center hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cohort. The CCRT group included 106 patients, with stage III-IV, Child-Pugh classification A, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 or 1, who underwent definitive CCRT as the initial treatment at YCC.

Increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients with transient elastography-defined subclinical cirrhosis.

Unlabelled: Early detection of liver cirrhosis in its subclinical stage is of paramount importance to identify high-risk individuals for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated whether transient elastography (TE) can identify patients with subclinical cirrhosis (SCC) who are at increased risk of developing HCC among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients without clinical evidence of cirrhosis. A total of 2,876 CHB patients without clinical cirrhosis who received TE examinations between April 2006 and December 2012 were enrolled in this prospective study.

Transient elastography-based risk estimation of hepatitis B virus-related occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma: development and validation of a predictive model.

Background: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a novel transient elastography-based predictive model for occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: A total of 1,250 patients with chronic hepatitis B and baseline liver stiffness values were recruited between May 2005 and December 2007. The predictive model for HCC occurrence was constructed based on a Cox proportional hazards model.

Vitamin B(12) deficiency after gastrectomy for gastric cancer: an analysis of clinical patterns and risk factors.

Objective: To identify risk factors for postgastrectomy vitamin B12 deficiency and the time course of its development.

Background: Postgastrectomy vitamin B12 deficiency worsens the quality of life of gastric cancer survivors, and vitamin B12-related neuropathy is irreversible if recognized late. However, the clinical pattern of vitamin B12 deficiency development after gastrectomy remains unclear.

Association between IL28B polymorphisms and spontaneous clearance of hepatitis B virus infection.

Background/aims: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the interleukin 28B gene (IL28B; interferon [IFN]-λ-3) are associated with outcomes of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection treated with peginterferon (PEG-IFN) alpha-based antiviral therapy. In this study, we investigated the influence of IL28B polymorphisms on spontaneous clearance of HBV infection in a large Korean cohort.

Methods: Between January 2007 and June 2010, a total of 208 patients with chronic HBV infection and newly diagnosed HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma were recruited as the CC group [HBsAg(+) for >6 months, anti-HBc(+), and anti-HBs(-)].

Staging of adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction: comparison of AJCC 6th and 7th gastric and 7th esophageal staging systems.

Background: Adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) is currently staged by the esophageal staging criteria according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system, 7th edition. We compared the performance of 6th gastric (G6), 7th gastric (G7), and 7th esophageal (E7) staging systems.

Methods: A total of 202 curatively resected adenocarcinomas of EGJ were analyzed.

Performance of transient elastography for the staging of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B: a meta-analysis.

Background: Transient elastography (TE), a non-invasive tool that measures liver stiffness, has been evaluated in meta-analyses for effectiveness in assessing liver fibrosis in European populations with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). However, these data cannot be extrapolated to populations in Asian countries, where chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is more prevalent. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the overall performance of TE for assessing liver fibrosis in patients with CHB.

Effect of sevoflurane on grafted kidney function in renal transplantation.

Background: The objective of this retrospective study was to determine if there are any differences in grafted kidney function in recipients of kidney transplantation (KT) when donors and recipients were anesthetized with sevoflurane compared to desflurane.

Methods: Seventy-three pairs of donors-recipients were anesthetized with sevoflurane (Sevo group) and 71 pairs were anesthetized with desflurane (Des group). We retrospectively investigated the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, creatinine (Cr) levels, and estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) of the recipients in both groups for 1 year postoperatively.

Reproducibility of measurement of apparent diffusion coefficients of malignant hepatic tumors: effect of DWI techniques and calculation methods.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) methods, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) calculation methods, and selection of b-values on the ADCs and the measurement reproducibility of malignant hepatic tumors.

Materials And Methods: Nineteen patients with pathologically confirmed malignant hepatic tumors underwent breath-hold DWI (b-values = 0, 50, 500 s/mm(2)) and respiratory-triggered DWI (0, 50, 300, 500, 1000 s/mm(2)) twice on a 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner.

Low-dose abdominal CT for evaluating suspected appendicitis.

Background: Computed tomography (CT) has become the predominant test for diagnosing acute appendicitis in adults. In children and young adults, exposure to CT radiation is of particular concern. We evaluated the rate of negative (unnecessary) appendectomy after low-dose versus standard-dose abdominal CT in young adults with suspected appendicitis.

A scoring system for prediction of lateral neck node metastasis from papillary thyroid cancer.

Lateral neck node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in thyroid carcinoma. We developed a scoring system for use in prediction of lateral neck node metastasis from papillary thyroid cancer. In this study, 161 consecutive patients were included in the training data set.

The ratio of intra-tumoral regulatory T cells (Foxp3+)/helper T cells (CD4+) is a prognostic factor and associated with recurrence pattern in gastric cardia cancer.

Background: TILs have been reported to be a prognostic factor in human cancers. We assessed the prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells in gastric cardia cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the database of Severance Hospital for patients who underwent curative resection of gastric cardia cancer from Jan 2000 to Dec 2006 and identified 180 patients.

Acute appendicitis in young adults: low- versus standard-radiation-dose contrast-enhanced abdominal CT for diagnosis.

Purpose: To compare low and standard radiation doses in intravenous contrast material-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in young adults.

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board approved this retrospective study and waived informed consent. The study included 257 patients (age range, 15-40 years) who underwent CT for suspected appendicitis performed by using a low radiation dose (n = 125) or a standard radiation dose (n = 132).

Oral vitamin B12 replacement: an effective treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency after total gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients.

Background: Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common long-term sequelae after total gastrectomy. Intramuscular injection of vitamin B12 is the only known treatment. We investigated the efficacy and safety of oral vitamin B12 replacement for gastric cancer patients with vitamin B12 deficiency after total gastrectomy.

Prospective evaluation of longitudinal changes in human papillomavirus genotype and phylogenetic clade associated with cervical disease progression.

Objective: Changes in the HPV genotype detected in patients over time could alter cervical disease progression. Identification of patterns in the alteration of HPV genotype should also be related to cytological and histological findings. Thus, we assessed the risk for low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) or high-grade SIL (HSIL)/squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) associated with alterations in the HPV genotype detected, presence of multiple HPV genotypes, and individual genotyping or HPV clade grouping.

Symptoms to use for diagnostic criteria of hwa-byung, an anger syndrome.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the characteristic symptoms which can be used for the diagnosis of hwa-byung, a culture-related anger syndrome in Korea.

Methods: The symptoms of the Hwa-byung Scale were correlated with the Korean versions of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (K-HDRS) and the State and Trait Anger Inventory (K-STAXI) in 89 patients, who were diagnosed as having major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, or adjustment disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) criteria and who had self-labeled hwa-byung. Also, the symptoms of the Hwa-byung Scale were correlated with each other.

Childhood risk factors in Korean women with anorexia nervosa: two sets of case-control studies with retrospective comparisons.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the risk factors for anorexia nervosa (AN) in Korean women.

Method: Two sets of case-control comparisons were conducted, in which 52 women with lifetime AN from Seoul, S. Korea, were compared with 108 Korean healthy controls and also with 42 women with lifetime AN from the UK in terms of their childhood risk factors.

How can we enhance the performance of liver stiffness measurement using FibroScan in diagnosing liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B?

Goal: This study aimed to enhance the diagnostic accuracy by defining different cutoff liver stiffness measurement (LSM) values according to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level and combining LSM with noninvasive models in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Background: Several studies have indicated that ALT influences LSM using FibroScan.

Study: The study prospectively enrolled 200 patients (143 men, mean age 45.

[Natural history of HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B virus infection: a cohort study].

Background/aims: The long-term virologic and biochemical changes in patients with HBeAg negative HBV infection, especially in Asia, remain unclear. To address this issue, we conducted a 3 year- retrospective, cohort study.

Methods: A total of 157 patients with HBeAg negative HBV infection who were monitored without treatment were reviewed between January 1999 and March 2004.

P63 and EGFR as prognostic predictors in stage IIB radiation-treated cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between p63, p53-related gene, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and spontaneous apoptosis in relation to radiotherapy in patients with FIGO stage IIB cervical carcinoma, who had undergone radiation and concurrent chemotherapy, retrospectively.

Methods: Eighty-four patients with FIGO stage IIB squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix, who were treated with radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy between 1991 and 1996, were included in the present study. The clinicopathologic features, patterns of treatment failure, and survival data were compared with the expressions of p63 and EGFR, which were determined by immunohistochemistry and with apoptosis by TUNEL on tissue-arrayed slides.