Identification of KIAA1199 as a Biomarker for Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers and has an extremely poor prognosis. Despite recent progress in both basic and clinical research, most pancreatic cancers are detected at an incurable stage owing to the absence of disease-specific symptoms. Thus, developing novel approaches for detecting pancreatic cancer at an early stage is imperative.

Tumor necrosis could reflect advanced disease status in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP therapy.

Tumor necrosis (TN) can lower responsiveness to chemotherapy and confer basic resistance to anti-cancer therapy. We investigated the association of TN with poor clinical features and outcome in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We examined the presence or absence of TN in 476 DLBCL patients of who received rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) therapy.

Usefulness of spleen volume measured by computed tomography for predicting clinical outcome in primary myelofibrosis.

Although splenomegaly is major characteristic of primary myelofibrosis (PMF), splenomegaly has been devalued due to a less reliable method based on physical examination (PEx). We evaluated whether spleen volume (SV) on CT would accurately predict clinical outcomes in PMF. A total of 188 patients were enrolled.

High total metabolic tumor volume in PET/CT predicts worse prognosis in diffuse large B cell lymphoma patients with bone marrow involvement in rituximab era.

Bone marrow involvement (BMI) in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) was naively regarded as an adverse clinical factor. However, it has been unknown which factor would separate clinical outcomes in DLBCL patients with BMI. Recently, metabolic tumor volume (MTV) on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) was suggested to predict prognosis in several lymphoma types.

Early intensified intravenous cyclosporine therapy predicts favorable response to immunosuppressive therapy with rabbit antithymocyte globulin in patients with severe aplastic anemia.

Because of relapse after horse ATG (hATG) therapy, rabbit ATG (rATG) would be a realistic alternative as second line immunosuppressive therapy (IST) in severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients. We investigated whether intensified intravenous (IV) CsA therapy with rATG would increase the response of IST in SAA patients. Sixty-one of the 123 patients received IV CsA therapy with rATG during initial 2 weeks then changed to oral form (IV CsA group), while other 62 patients just received oral CsA therapy with rATG (oral CsA group).

Monosomal and complex karyotypes as prognostic parameters in patients with International Prognostic Scoring System higher risk myelodysplastic syndrome treated with azacitidine.

Background: Azacitidine (AZA) is standard care for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who have not had allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Chromosomal abnormalities (CA) including complex karyotype (CK) or monosomal karyotype (MK) are associated with clinical outcome in patients with MDS.

Methods: We investigated which prognostic factors including CAs would predict clinical outcomes in patients with International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) higher risk MDS treated with AZA, retrospectively.

Statin use has negative clinical impact on non-germinal center in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma in rituximab era.

Rituximab improved prognosis in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, activity of rituximab may be reduced by conformational change in CD20 by statin-induced cholesterol depletion. Conformation change in CD20 could impair the binding of rituximab and significantly decrease the killing effect of lymphoma cells.

Revision total knee arthroplasty with a cemented posterior stabilized, condylar constrained or fully constrained prosthesis: a minimum 2-year follow-up analysis.

Background: The clinical and radiological outcomes of revision total knee arthroplasty with a cemented posterior stabilized (PS), condylar constrained knee (CCK) or a fully constrained rotating hinge knee (RHK) prosthesis were evaluated.

Methods: This study reviewed the clinical and radiological results of 36 revision total knee arthroplasties with a cemented PS, CCK, and RHK prosthesis in 8, 25, and 13 cases, respectively, performed between 1998 and 2006. The mean follow-up period was 30 months (range, 24 to 100 months).

Restoration of the center of rotation in revision total hip arthroplasty.

We measured the change of the center of hip rotation after the revision of acetabular loosening using an acetabular reconstruction ring and an impaction allogenic bone grafting. Thirty-five revision total hip arthroplasties were performed. The average follow-up was 3.

Two-stage conversion of fused knee to total knee arthroplasty.

We report 2 cases of conversion of fused knee to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) by way of soft-tissue expansion. Case 1 had had multiple operations on the infected total knee, which was arthrodesed 7 months before conversion. Case 2 had had knee arthrodesis for an intra-articular comminuted fracture 5 years and 10 months before conversion.

Rat model of staphylococcal enterotoxin B-induced rhinosinusitis.

Objectives: It has been proposed that microbial persistence, superantigen (SA) production, and host T-cell response may be involved in the development of chronic rhinosinusitis. According to the SA hypothesis, a single intranasal application of SA such as staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) may induce chronic eosinophilic rhinosinusitis. This study aimed to develop a rat model of rhinosinusitis induced by intranasally applied SEB.

Endoscopic intranasal reduction of the orbit in isolated blowout fractures.

Conclusion: Endoscopic intranasal reduction of the orbital floor with a detachable temporary balloon, or of the medial orbital wall with a silastic sheet and Merocel packing, provided good functional results and definite advantages. We suggest that these techniques are another surgical alternative for isolated orbital floor or medial wall blowout fractures that do not accompany any associated fractures of the orbital rim.

Objectives: Extended applications of endoscopic sinus surgery have reported endoscopic intranasal reduction or reconstruction of the orbital wall with good functional and cosmetic results.

Clinical and genetic analysis of HLXB9 gene in Korean patients with Currarino syndrome.

Currarino syndrome (CS) is a rare autosomal dominant disease that has been described as a triad of partial sacral agenesis, anorectal anomalies, and a presacral mass. Mutations in the HLXB9 gene have been suggested to be the genetic background of CS. In this study, sequence analysis of the HLXB9 gene was performed in two familial and two sporadic Korean patients showing the clinical features of CS, and two mutations in the HLXB9 gene were identified only in the two familial cases.

Rat model of platelet-activating factor-induced rhinosinusitis.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is known to be a potent inflammatory mediator, especially in allergic inflammation. However, the exact role of PAF in the pathogenesis of rhinosinusitis has not been clearly established. To understand the role of PAF in the pathogenesis of rhinosinusitis, it is necessary to develop an animal model of PAF-induced rhinosinusitis.

How reliable is the ultrasound densitometer for community screening to diagnose osteoporosis in spine, femur, and forearm?

Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the most widely used noninvasive, quantitative diagnostic method of measuring bone density, but it exhibits several limitations for the purpose of general screening and community-based study. Thus, we evaluated the feasibility of the ultrasound densitometer SoundScan Compact for screening the osteoporosis community. We compared the reliability of the SoundScan Compact's measurement to predict both osteopenia and osteoporosis at the spine, femur, and forearm measured by the XR-36.

Comparison of MRI with subchondral fracture in the evaluation of extent of epiphyseal necrosis in the early stage of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

We reviewed 20 patients in the early stage of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease who showed a subchondral fracture line in radiographs. All 20 patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 2 months after the first symptoms. Follow-up MRI after treatment was performed in 10 patients.

Parathyroid carcinoma: report of three cases and review of the literature.

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare endocrine malignancy characterized by the exaggerated metabolic effects of the parathyroid glands. The preoperative differential diagnosis between parathyroid carcinoma and primary hyperparathyroidism is often difficult because many of the signs and symptoms are very similar. Intraoperative differentiation is obscured by the strict anatomic and histologic criteria required for diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma.

Femoral varus derotation osteotomy with or without acetabuloplasty for unstable hips in cerebral palsy.

We reviewed 39 children with cerebral palsy who had surgery for hip subluxation or dislocation. Of 55 treated hips, 31 had a varus derotation osteotomy alone, and 24 had a combination of varus derotation osteotomy and an acetabular procedure. There was no significant difference in the ages of the two groups.

Stereotactic breast biopsy as an alternative to excisional biopsy.

The current widespread use of modern mammography has increased the detection of suspicious mammographic lesions, which has led to a greater number of diagnostic surgical biopsies. Most of these lesions referred for surgical biopsy have been benign. The reduction in the number of benign surgical biopsies can reduce medical costs and unnecessary invasive breast surgery.

Freeman-Sheldon syndrome (whistling face syndrome) and cranio-vertebral junction malformation producing dysphagia and weight loss.

The whistling face syndrome has been reported, with complications of the respiratory system and feeding problems due to microstomia, since 1938. Dysphagia, however, has not previously been reported as a complication of whistling face syndrome. We report a 13-year-old with the whistling face syndrome and dysphagia of late onset who has the typical whistling face, scoliosis and multiple joint contractures.