Long-Term Survival Outcomes of Elderly Patients Treated With S-1 or Capecitabine Plus Oxaliplatin for Stage II or III Gastric Cancer: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Purpose: Tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil (S-1) and capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) are standard adjuvant chemotherapies (ACs) administered after gastrectomy to patients with stage II or III gastric cancer. However, the efficacy of AC in elderly patients remains unclear. The objective of this retrospective multicenter cohort study was to compare the efficacies of S-1 and CAPOX AC in patients aged ≥70 years.

Appropriate Number of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Cycles for Patients with Stage 2 or 3 Gastric Cancer After Curative Gastrectomy: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: Few studies have presented evidence pertaining to the adequate minimum number of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) cycles required to achieve an oncologic benefit for gastric cancer.

Methods: From January 2012 to December 2013, data from patients who underwent curative radical gastrectomy and consequently received AC for pathologic stage 2 or 3 gastric cancer at 27 institutions in South Korea were analyzed.

Results: The study enrolled 925 patients, 661 patients (71.

Long-term Efficacy of S-1 Monotherapy or Capecitabine Plus Oxaliplatin as Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Patients with Stage II or III Gastric Cancer after Curative Gastrectomy: a Propensity Score-Matched Multicenter Cohort Study.

Purpose: To compare long-term disease-free survival (DFS) between patients receiving tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil (S-1) or capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) for gastric cancer (GC).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective multicenter observational study enrolled 983 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy with consecutive AC with S-1 or CAPOX for stage II or III GC at 27 hospitals in Korea between February 2012 and December 2013. We conducted propensity score matching to reduce selection bias.

Analysis of the Microbiome in the Adenoids of Korean Children with Otitis Media with Effusion.

Objectives: The adenoid pad, which is located between the orifice of the Eustachian tube (ET) and posterior nasal cavity, can affect the development of otitis media with effusion (OME) because of its anatomical location. The aim of the present study was to evaluate adenoid microbial colonization through 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) pyrosequencing, an advanced molecular technique, and to document the relationship with OME.

Materials And Methods: Adenoid samples were collected using sterile cotton from 32 children during ventilation tube insertion.

VEGF-C induced by TGF- β1 signaling in gastric cancer enhances tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis.

Background: The role of TGF-β1 in lymph node metastasis and lymphangiogenesis, one of the most important steps of gastric cancer dissemination, is largely unknown. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of TGF-β1 signaling and its molecular mechanisms involved in lymphangiogenesis of gastric cancer.

Methods: Two gastric cell line models, MKN45 and KATOIII, were selected for this study.

Prospective randomized clinical trial of uncomplicated right-sided colonic diverticulitis: antibiotics versus no antibiotics.

Purpose: Antibiotics are widely used in the treatment of uncomplicated left-sided colonic diverticulitis. In Asian countries, however, right-sided colonic diverticulitis is more common than left-sided colonic diverticulitis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the need for antibiotics in the treatment of uncomplicated right-sided colonic diverticulitis in an Asian population.

Who Can Perform Adjuvant Chemotherapy Treatment for Gastric Cancer? A Multicenter Retrospective Overview of the Current Status in Korea.

Purpose: To investigate the current status of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) regimens in Korea and the difference in efficacy of AC administered by surgical and medical oncologists in patients with stage II or III gastric cancers.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study among 1,049 patients who underwent curative resection and received AC for stage II and III gastric cancers between February 2012 and December 2013 at 29 tertiary referral university hospitals in Korea. To minimize the influence of potential confounders on selection bias, propensity score matching (PSM) was used based on binary logistic regression analysis.

Could laparoscopic appendectomy in pregnant women affect obstetric outcomes? A multicenter study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the perioperative and obstetric outcomes of pregnant women between laparoscopic surgery and open surgery and to evaluate the predictive factors for overall obstetric outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of pregnant women who underwent appendectomy between January 2008 and June 2015 at six hospitals affiliated to Hallym University.

Results: Eighty patients were evaluated.

Investigation of Endoscopic and Pathologic Features for Safe Endoscopic Treatment of Superficial Spreading Early Gastric Cancer.

Superficial spreading early gastric cancer (EGC) is a rare disease that is treated mainly by surgery. There are few studies on the safety of endoscopic treatment for patients with superficial spreading EGC. The aims of this study were to (1) investigate the risk of lymph node metastasis of superficial spreading EGC and (2) investigate the potential criteria for endoscopic treatment of superficial spreading EGC using surgical specimens.

Differences in TGF-β1 signaling and clinicopathologic characteristics of histologic subtypes of gastric cancer.

Background: Aberrant TGF-β1 signaling is suggested to be involved in gastric carcinogenesis. However, the role of TGF-β1 in intestinal-type [i-GC] and diffuse-type [d-GC] gastric cancer remains largely unknown. In this study, we evaluated the expression of TGF-β1 signaling molecules and compared the clinicopathological features of i-GC and d-GC.

The different role of intratumoral and peritumoral lymphangiogenesis in gastric cancer progression and prognosis.

Background: Tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis plays a crucial role in metastasis and tumor progression. However, the significance of intratumoral lymphovascular density (I-LVD) and peritumoral lymphovascular density (P-LVD) has been controversial in gastric cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences of clinicopathologic characteristics with respect to I-LVD and P-LVD in gastric cancer.

Novel method for port implantation in lap-band surgery--transumbilical subfascial port implantation.

Background: Some patients who have undergone a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band operation express dissatisfaction with visible scars or protrusion of the access port after sufficient weight loss. We hypothesized that subfascial port implantation could minimize those problems as well as port-related complications.

Subjects And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent "transumbilical" subfascial port (SP) implantation between March 2009 and July 2011.

Early experience with diagnosis and management of eroded gastric bands.

Purpose: Band erosion is a well-known complication of laparoscopic adjustable gastric band placement. We gained experience with laparoscopic removal of an eroded gastric band.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the operative log of our obesity surgery unit to identify all operations performed for band erosion from March 2009 to May 2011.

New surgical approach for gastric bezoar: "hybrid access surgery" combined intragastric and single port surgery.

Regarding the removal of a gastric bezoar, laparoscopic surgery was performed and it was shown that the laparoscopic approach is safe and feasible. However, the laparoscopic method has the risk of intraabdominal contamination, when the gastric bezoar is retrieved from the gastric lumen in the peritoneal cavity. We developed and applied a new procedure for the removal of the gastric bezoar using one surgical glove and two wound retractors as a fashion of intragastric single port surgery.

Successful cholecystectomy during robotic gastrectomy.

Background: Surgeons have successfully combined various laparoscopic procedures with increasing technical ease. However, few reports exist regarding the feasibility of combined robotic operations. We present our institution's successful concomitant robotic surgery for early gastric cancer and coexisting gallbladder disease.

Elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a marker of advanced stage gastric cancer and postgastrectomy disease recurrence.

Background And Objectives: Gastric cancer recurrence after curative surgery remains high. Although no preoperative marker of gastric cancer progression after radical gastrectomy exists, recent studies suggest that C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with cancer progression. Our study evaluated the significance of preoperative high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) levels as a marker of disease progression after radical gastrectomy.

Multifocality in early gastric cancer does not increase the risk of lymph node metastasis in a single-center study.

Background: The multifocality rate of EGC ranges from 4 to 20%, but there are few data regarding both lymph node metastasis and feasibility of the endoscopic treatment. We investigated the risk of lymph node metastasis with the purpose to evaluate the potential for endoscopic treatment in patients with multifocal EGC.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent radical gastrectomy to treat EGC between January 2001 and December 2007 at Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Long-term oncologic outcomes of 714 consecutive laparoscopic gastrectomies for gastric cancer: results from the 7-year experience of a single institute.

Background: Although many reports have indicated the feasibility of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) regarding short-term surgical outcomes, the role of LG remains controversial because studies of long-term outcomes of LG are insufficient. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term oncologic outcomes of patients who have undergone LG.

Methods: Between May 2003 and December 2009, 714 consecutive patients underwent LG for gastric cancer.

Clinical implication of FDG-PET in advanced gastric cancer with signet ring cell histology.

Background And Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the standardized uptake values (SUV), a semi-quantitative assessment of tumor FDG uptake, as a prognosticator for advanced signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC).

Methods: We reviewed the files of 41 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for advanced SRC and who had an FDG-PET at initial presentation between September 2003 and December 2007.

Results: The median follow-up period was 30.

Robotic gastrectomy as an oncologically sound alternative to laparoscopic resections for the treatment of early-stage gastric cancers.

Objective: To evaluate the comparative safety and efficacy of robotic vs laparoscopic gastrectomy for early-stage gastric cancer.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

Setting: Tertiary hospital.

Early gastric cancer of signet ring cell carcinoma is more amenable to endoscopic treatment than is early gastric cancer of poorly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma in select tumor conditions.

Background: Recently, endoscopic submucosal dissection has been carefully applied in early gastric cancer (EGC) with undifferentiated type. However, there are no individual guidelines for endoscopic treatment of EGCs with poorly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma or signet ring cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the clinicopathologic features of these two types of EGC to guide the application of endoscopic treatment.

A novel modification of double stapling technique in Billroth I anastomosis.

Although the double-stapling technique has been used as a safe procedure in gastroduodenostomy, creating anastomosis with a circular stapler on the linear stapler line can be vulnerable for anastomotic leakage and ischemia. Therefore, we tried to modify the double-stapling technique to avoid stapling on the staple line.