Prognostic value of early postoperative tumor marker response in gastric cancer.

Background: The clinical usefulness of tumor markers as predictors of treatment outcome in patients with stomach cancer after radical gastrectomy has been poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a comprehensive understanding of the impact of early postoperative tumor marker normalization on survival after gastrectomy.

Methods: Between January 2001 and December 2007, we enrolled 206 patients who had received radical gastrectomy as an initial treatment and had elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (>5 ng/mL) or carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 (>37 U/mL) levels.

Defining the target volume for post-operative radiotherapy after D2 dissection in gastric cancer by CT-based vessel-guided delineation.

Purpose: To determine the recurrent nodal gross tumor volume (rnGTV) based on CT-guided vascular structure to refine the clinical target volume (CTV) delineation in postoperative radiotherapy for advanced gastric cancer following radical gastrectomy with D2 dissection.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed follow-up images from 91 patients with their first regional recurrence after D2 dissection in stage III gastric cancer with N3 disease. We defined rnGTV as recurrent nodes shown in follow-up CT images, in which one diagnostic radiologist with specialty of gastrointestinal tract investigated.

Ultrathin endoscope-assisted self-expandable metallic stent placement following initial unsuccessful attempt in malignant upper gastrointestinal obstruction.

Background: Conventional endoscopy for self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) placement may be technically limited in long and tortuous strictures. Therefore, we analyzed the feasibility, safety and usefulness of ultrathin endoscopy (UTE)-guided SEMS placement.

Patients And Methods: This study involved 24 patients with upper gastrointestinal obstruction and unsuccessful initial attempts to place SEMS using conventional endoscopy.

Can we apply the same indication of endoscopic submucosal dissection for primary gastric cancer to remnant gastric cancer?

Background: Currently, remnant gastric cancer (RGC) is uncommon compared with gastric stump cancer, but early detection of gastric cancer and improved postsurgical survival will lead to increased incidence of RGC. Therefore, the indication of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for RGC is now required, but there have been no reports about this because of the lack of information for RGC.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 105 patients who underwent completion total gastrectomy (CTG) and 5 patients who underwent ESD for RGC between January 1998 and December 2010 at Yonsei University Hospital.

Pulmonary actinomycosis during the first decade of 21st century: cases of 94 patients.

Background: Pulmonary actinomycosis is a chronic pulmonary infection caused by Actinomyces. Both improving oral hygiene and early application of antibiotics to the case of suspicious pulmonary infections result in changes in incidences and presentations of pulmonary actinomycosis. However, there are little reports dealt with the recent clinical characteristics of pulmonary actinomycosis.

Undifferentiated early gastric cancer diagnosed as differentiated histology based on forceps biopsy.

Histological diagnosis before endoscopic resection (ER) is important to determine whether ER should be performed; indeed, the use of ER for undifferentiated early gastric cancer (UD-EGC) remains controversial. The aim was to investigate the clinicopathological features of UD-EGC in ER specimens, diagnosed as differentiated histology based on biopsy. 289 patients with EGC were treated by ER.

Clinical implication of endoscopic gross appearance in early gastric cancer: revisited.

Background: The macroscopic appearance of early gastric cancer (EGC) is known to reflect its growth patterns. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the endoscopic appearance as a predictor of clinical behavior in EGC.

Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2008, 1,845 patients were diagnosed with EGC and underwent surgery.

A Fatal Case of Acute Respiratory Failure Caused by Mycobacterium massiliense.

Few recent reports have indicated that Mycobacterium massiliense causes various infections including respiratory infection. However, there is scarce information on the clinical significance, natural history of the infection, and therapeutic strategy. This report describes a case of an immunocompetent old man infected by M.

Transition zone defect associated with the response to proton pump inhibitor treatment in patients with globus sensation.

Background And Aim: Few data describing short-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment in patients with globus sensation exist. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of high-resolution manometry (HRM) for predicting the response to PPI treatment in patients with globus sensation.

Method: A total of 41 patients with globus sensation were treated with PPIs for 4 weeks and were classified as positive and negative responders.

Long-term outcome of early gastric cancer after endoscopic submucosal dissection: expanded indication is comparable to absolute indication.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection has become widely used for early gastric cancer with an expanded indication, although there is no strong consensus. We aimed to compare the clinical and long-term oncological outcome after endoscopic submucosal dissection according to indication.

Methods: Retrospective review of 1152 patients with 1175 lesions who had undergone endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer at tertiary educational hospital in Korea, between March 2005 and November 2011.

The incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with advanced solid cancers receiving anticoagulation therapy after the diagnosis of index VTE.

Unlabelled: Patients with cancer have been associated with increased risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, data on recurrent VTE in Asian patients with advanced solid cancers are limited.

Methods: This study was conducted using data from the Korean VTE registry, which is an ongoing, prospective database.

Sedation methods can determine performance of endoscopic submucosal dissection in patients with gastric neoplasia.

Background: Although proper sedation is mandatory for endoscopic procedures such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), there is no research investigating the effects of sedation on ESD performance and complications. We aimed to evaluate the relationship among sedation methods, clinical outcomes, and complications after ESD for gastric neoplasia.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of 1,367 patients with 1,485 lesions who had undergone ESD for gastric adenoma or early gastric cancer at our tertiary teaching hospital in Seoul, Korea, between January 2008 and May 2011.

Inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced lung inflammation through modulation of NF-κB/HIF-1α signaling pathway.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is involved in a variety of inflammatory disorders. Under stress conditions, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) loses the homeostasis in its functions, which is defined as ER stress. Little is known how ER stress is implicated in LPS-induced lung inflammation.

Helicobacter pylori eradication on iatrogenic ulcer by endoscopic resection of gastric tumour: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled multi-centre trial.

Introduction: The role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication has not been clarified in the healing of iatrogenic ulcer after endoscopic resection of gastric neoplasm. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether H.

A Multicenter Study of Pertussis Infection in Adults with Coughing in Korea: PCR-Based Study.

Background: Limited data on the incidence and clinical characteristics of adult pertussis infections are available in Korea.

Methods: Thirty-one hospitals and the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborated to investigate the incidence and clinical characteristics of pertussis infections among adults with a bothersome cough in non-outbreak, ordinary outpatient settings. Nasopharyngeal aspirates or nasopharyngeal swabs were collected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture tests.

Impact of cumulative time on the clinical outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection in gastric neoplasm.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) can be technically demanding and requires great attention to detail and prolonged concentration. We assumed that clinical outcomes of ESDs may be affected by cumulative time, and we aimed to compare complete resection rates and adverse events according to cumulative ESD time.

Methods: This study involved 1,328 consecutive patients with 1,461 gastric tumors who underwent ESD from January 2008 to July 2011 in a tertiary-care academic medical center.

Endoscopic management of anastomotic leakage after gastrectomy for gastric cancer: how efficacious is it?

Background: Anastomotic leak is a dreadful complication with a high mortality rate. The authors aimed to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic closure of anastomotic dehiscence after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed 33 patients with anastomotic leakage who had underdone endoscopic treatment among 5249 patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical total or subtotal gastrectomy.

What is the ideal stent as initial intervention for malignant gastric outlet obstruction?

Background: Self-expandable metal stents are effective palliation for malignant gastric outlet obstruction. The aims of study were to evaluate efficacy and safety of double-layered Comvi, uncovered and covered stent to find out protocols which enhance stent patency.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from 224 patients who underwent endoscopic stent placement for malignant gastric outlet obstruction caused by stomach cancer from 2006 to 2011.

Risk factors and prognosis of pulmonary complications after endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric neoplasia.

Background: Hospital-acquired pneumonia after an endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) can prolong the patient's stay in the hospital, leading to greater healthcare costs. However, little is known of the characteristics and risk factors associated with this complication.

Aims: To analyze the clinical features of pneumonia after ESD and to suggest a treatment plan.

Signet ring cell mixed histology may show more aggressive behavior than other histologies in early gastric cancer.

Background: Signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC) of the stomach is known to have different microscopic and biologic characteristics compared to non-SRC. The pathologic report has documented partly SRC component with main histologies. However, the clinical significance of SRC mixture has not been reported.

Effect of acid swallowing on esophageal contraction in patients with heartburn related to hypersensitivity.

Background And Aim: There are heterogeneous subgroups among those with heartburn, and data on these individuals are relatively scant. We aimed to evaluate the effect of acid challenge on the segmental contractions of esophageal smooth muscle in endoscopy-negative patients with normal esophageal acid exposure.

Methods: High-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) was performed on 30 endoscopy-negative patients with heartburn accompanied by normal esophageal acid exposure using 10 water swallows followed by 10 acidic pomegranate juice swallows.

Patterns of regional recurrence after curative D2 resection for stage III (N3) gastric cancer: implications for postoperative radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: To analyze patterns of regional recurrence after curative gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection in patients with stage III (N3) gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: Between 2004 and 2008, 2918 patients with primary gastric cancer underwent D2 resection at a single institution. A retrospective review was performed on 382 patients in stage III with N3 disease.

L-2-Oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid or α-lipoic acid attenuates airway remodeling: involvement of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), nuclear factor erythroid 2p45-related factor-2 (Nrf2), and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF).

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic respiratory diseases. Antioxidants have been found to ameliorate airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in animal models employing short-term exposure to allergen. However, little data are available on the effect of antioxidants on airway remodeling and signaling pathways in chronic asthma.

Increased incidence of endoscopic erosive esophagitis in solid organ transplant recipients.

Background/aims: Solid organ transplant recipients frequently report gastrointestinal symptoms, especially heartburn or dyspepsia. However, the prevalence of endoscopic erosive esophagitis (EE) and associated risk factors after transplantation are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was a high incidence of endoscopic findings of EE in solid organ transplant recipients.