Optimal sequential therapy using tyrosine kinase inhibitors as the first-line treatment in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: A nationwide multicenter study.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to identify the best sequence of therapy beginning with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) as the first-line therapy for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in terms of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and rates of discontinuation and adverse effects during the treatment period.

Methods: This is a retrospective, nationwide multicenter study of patients with mRCC after diagnosis at 10 different tertiary medical centers in Korea from January 1992 to December 2017. We focused on patients at either "favorable" or "intermediate" risk according to the International mRCC Database Consortium criteria, and they were followed up (median 335 days).

The living donor evaluation as a life-saving event.

Background: As a population, living kidney donors have a longer life expectancy than the general population. This is generally thought to be an artifact of selection, as only healthy individuals are allowed to donate, and the operative mortality and risk of subsequent renal failure are very low. However, there may also be an additional benefit to the process, as the donor evaluation may uncover an early occult cancer or a potentially serious medical problem.

ProDisc-C versus anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for the surgical treatment of symptomatic cervical disc disease: two-year outcomes of Asian prospective randomized controlled multicentre study.

Purpose: Our study aimed to evaluate non-inferiority of ProDisc-C to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in terms of clinical outcomes and incidence of adjacent segment disease (ASD) at 24-months post-surgery in Asian patients with symptomatic cervical disc disease (SCDD).

Methods: This multicentre, prospective, randomized controlled trial was initiated after ethics committee approval at nine centres (China/Hong Kong/Korea/Singapore/Taiwan). Patients with single-level SCDD involving C3-C7-vertebral segments were randomized (2:1) into: group-A treated with ProDisc-C and group-B with ACDF.

Three-Year Follow-Up of Laser In Situ Keratomileusis Treatments for Myopia: Multi-Center Cohort Study in Korean Population.

This multi-center cohort study included 3401 myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) procedures conducted in 1756 myopia patients between 2002 and 2005. Pre- and postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and manifest refraction spherical equivalent (SE) were recorded. Factors predicting low postoperative efficacy (defined as a postoperative UCVA < 0.

Phase I Pharmacokinetic Study of Nivolumab in Korean Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors.

Lessons Learned: This pharmacokinetic study of nivolumab showed that there is little ethnic difference in the handling of nivolumab.Nivolumab was well tolerated in Korean patients.

Background: This phase I study of nivolumab, an anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1) monoclonal antibody, investigated the pharmacokinetics and safety of nivolumab in Korean patients with advanced solid tumors.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Prognosis of Xp11.2 Translocation Renal Cell Carcinoma: Multicenter, Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Background: We evaluated the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of Xp11.2 translocation (Xp11.2t) renal cell carcinoma (RCC) from a multicenter study and compare them with clear-cell RCC using a propensity score matching analysis.

Rome foundation Asian working team report: Real world treatment experience of Asian patients with functional bowel disorders.

Background And Aim: Information on real world treatment experiences of patients with functional bowel disorders is lacking from Asia. This study aimed to describe the medication exposure and treatment satisfaction of patients presenting to gastroenterology clinics across a sampling of Asian cities.

Methods: From March 2011 to October 2013, adult patients presenting to hospital-based gastroenterology outpatient clinics in 11 cities across Asia, who fulfilled screening criteria for any functional gastrointestinal disorder, were asked to complete a validated culturally adapted translation of the Rome III diagnostic questionnaire, a checklist of medications received in the preceding 3 months and questions on treatment satisfaction.

Major Predictors of Long-Term Clinical Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Coronary Bifurcation Lesions With 2-Stent Strategy: Patient-Level Analysis of the Korean Bifurcation Pooled Cohorts.

Objectives: This study investigated the long-term outcomes and predictors of target vessel failure (a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, or target vessel revascularization) in patients with bifurcation lesion treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) utilizing the 2-stent strategy with a drug-eluting stent (DES).

Background: There are limited data on outcomes of the 2-stent strategy in bifurcation PCI.

Methods: Patient-level pooled analysis was performed with patients undergoing PCI with 2-stent strategy from the Korean Bifurcation Pooled Cohorts.

Hemangiopericytomas in the Central Nervous System: A Multicenter Study of Korean Cases with Validation of the Usage of STAT6 Immunohistochemistry for Diagnosis of Disease.

Background: Hemangiopericytoma (HPC) in the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare disease with distinctive biological/clinical characteristics compared with meningioma.

Methods: Cases of HPCs of the CNS were collected, and clinicopathological records were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for proliferative markers (Ki-67, PHH3) and STAT6 were performed.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group pilot study of milnacipran for chronic radicular pain (sciatica) associated with lumbosacral disc disease.

Objective: The current study investigates whether milnacipran, an equipotent serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is effective in reducing chronic radicular pain in patients (N = 11) with lumbosacral disc disease.

Method: This study is a 10-week randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of milnacipran (100-200 mg/d, dosed twice a day). Subjects (enrolled from October 2010 to September 2011 through the Duke University Pain and Palliative Care Clinic, Durham, North Carolina) included patients with radiologically confirmed disc disease with nerve root compression.

The impact of side branch predilatation on procedural and long-term clinical outcomes in coronary bifurcation lesions treated by the provisional approach.

Introduction And Objectives: It is uncertain whether side branch predilatation before main vessel stenting is necessary. We evaluated the effect of side branch predilatation on outcomes in percutaneous coronary intervention for true nonleft main bifurcation determined by the Medina classification using the provisional approach.

Methods: Target vessel failures (composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization) were compared between patients who underwent side branch predilatation (predilatation group, n = 175) and those who did not (nonpredilatation group, n = 662).

Cutaneous sarcoidosis presenting as multiple erythematous macules and patches.

Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic multisystemic disorder with variable cutaneous presentations that are classified as specific or non-specific according to the presence of non-caseating granulomas on histologic examination. Specific manifestations can include papules, scar sarcoidosis, ulcers, or even alopecia. Herein, we present a case of cutaneous sarcoidosis that presented as multiple erythematous macules and patches on the trunk and extremities of a 32-year-old man.

Effect of flap removal in myopic epi-LASIK surgery on visual rehabilitation and postoperative pain: a prospective intraindividual study.

Purpose: A prospective intraindividual study to evaluate the effect of flap removal in myopic epi-LASIK surgery on visual rehabilitation and postoperative pain.

Methods: Ninety eyes of 45 patients were treated for myopia with epi-LASIK. In each patient, the epithelial flap was repositioned in one eye after epi-LASIK (group 1) while the flap was removed in the other (group 2).

Vitiligo occurring after halo formation around congenital melanocytic nevi.

We present two cases wherein vitiligo developed after the onset of halo formation involving congenital melanocytic nevi to emphasize the possibility of this finding as a potential albeit unusual presentation of vitiligo.

Inhibitory Effect of IFN-beta, on the Antitumor Activity of Celecoxib in U87 Glioma Model.

Objective: Interferon-beta, (IFN-beta) has been used in the treatment of cancers. Inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX) with celecoxib had a significantly suppressive effect on tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis in a variety of tumors. The aim of this study was to elucidate the antiglioma effect of combined treatment with IFN-beta and celecoxib in U87 glioma model.

A case of atopic dermatitis-associated lichen amyloidosis successfully treated with oral cyclosporine and narrow band UVB therapy in succession.

Lichen amyloidosis (LA) is a chronic, severely pruritic skin disease characterized by deposition of amyloid in the skin with no visceral involvement. Current treatments of LA are unsatisfactory, with high relapse rates, complications, and treatment failures. A 31-year-old woman with a history of refractory atopic dermatitis (AD) presented with pruritic, multiple, discrete papules on the extremities and back.

The impact of paratracheal lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx.

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence and prognostic importance of paratracheal lymph nodes in squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx. A retrospective review of 64 previously untreated patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the hypopharynx that underwent surgery was performed. Ipsilateral paratracheal lymph node metastases occurred in 22% (14 out of 64) and the mean number of paratracheal lymph nodes dissected per side was 2.

CK7, CK20, CDX2 and MUC2 Immunohistochemical staining used to distinguish metastatic colorectal carcinoma involving ovary from primary ovarian mucinous adenocarcinoma.

Objective: Colorectal adenocarcinoma, the most common tumor that metastasizes to the ovary, is often difficult to distinguish from primary ovarian mucinous adenocarcinoma (POMA). Obtaining the correct diagnosis is difficult but crucial to treatment and prognosis.

Methods: We evaluated the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of cytokeratin 7 (CK7), cytokeratin 20 (CK20), CDX2, CEA, MUC2, MUC5AC and alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR) in 22 POMAs and 41 metastatic colorectal adenocarcinomas (MCAOs) involving ovaries.

Factors that predict postoperative pulmonary complications after supracricoid partial laryngectomy.

Objective: To determine the risk factors related to postoperative pulmonary complications in patients who undergo supracricoid partial laryngectomy.

Design: Retrospective analysis of medical records.

Setting: Tertiary care referral center.

Effects of amniotic membrane suspension in human corneal wound healing in vitro.

Purpose: To investigate the biochemical mechanism of amniotic membrane (AM) suspension on corneal wound healing, particularly on epithelial proliferation and migration.

Methods: Human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) were cultured in media with different concentrations of AM suspension (5% and 30%), Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium: Nutrient Mixture F-12 (negative control), and serum containing Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium: Nutrient Mixture F-12 (positive control). In an effort to evaluate the migratory potential of AM, migration assays were conducted via the manual scraping of HCECs and immunocytochemical staining of cell adhesion molecules (E-cadherin).

Immunological factors relating to the antitumor effect of temozolomide chemoimmunotherapy in a murine glioma model.

In this study, we investigated the potential of combined treatment with temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy and tumor antigen-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) and the underlying immunological factors of TMZ chemoimmunotherapy with an intracranial GL26 glioma animal model. The combined treatment enhanced the tumor-specific immune responses and prolonged the survival more effectively than either single therapy in GL26 tumor-bearing animals. Apoptosis was induced in the tumors of the animals by the treatment with TMZ.

Endothelial damage of a donor cornea depending on the donor insertion method during Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty in porcine eyes.

Purpose: To compare endothelial damage of the donor cornea in relation to the method of inserting the donor cornea into the recipient anterior chamber during Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK).

Methods: Fifteen enucleated pig eyes were used. The donor corneoscleral buttons were mounted in an artificial anterior chamber.

Base curves of therapeutic lenses and their effects on post Epi-LASIK vision and pain: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of bandage contact lenses with two different base curves in promoting epithelial healing after epithelial laser in situ keratomileusis (epi-LASIK).

Methods: A prospective, observer-masked study was conducted in 27 patients. Each patient randomly received one bandage contact lens with an 8.

Trichoblastoma in a child.

A trichoblastoma is a benign adnexal neoplasm composed of follicular germinative cells. It most commonly presents as a solitary nodule on the scalp, face, or perineum and occurs equally in males and females. It is diagnosed most commonly between the fourth and the sixth decades, and it is extremely rare in childhood.