• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1897-1900
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• 2015

Purpose: To evaluate acute toxicity in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)/volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with or without cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: A total of 45 newly diagnosed, histologically proven non-metastatic NPC patients treated with IMRT between May 2010 and December 2012, were evaluated retrospectively, 37 planned with Eclipse and 8 with Prowess Panther treatment planning system. The doses to the planning target volumes of primary tumor and involved lymph nodes, high risk region, and uninvolved regional nodal areas were 70 Gy, 60 Gy, and 54 Gy respectively and delivered simultaneously over 33 fractions to 39 patients. Another 6 patients irradiated with sequential boost technique. Some 84.4% of patients received chemotherapy. Acute toxicities were graded according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scoring criteria and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) for chemotherapy side effects. Results: Median age was 43 years (14-79) and all patients were WHO type II. Grade 1 mucositis and dysphagia were observed in 17 (37.8%), and 10 (22.2%) patients, respectively. The incidence of acute grade 2 mucositis and dysphagia was 55.6% and 68.9%, respectively. The most common chemoradiotherapy related acute toxicities were nausea, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. Grade 3 toxicity was detected in 13 (28.8%) cases. No grade 4 toxicity was occurred. Mean weight loss was 9%. None of the patients required the insertion of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy for nutritional support. Radiation therapy was completed without interruption in all patients. Conclusions: IMRT is a safe and effective treatment modality, and well tolerated by patients in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. No unexpected side effects were observed.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.215-220
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• 2001

Purpose: The aim of the study was to obtain data on the anatomic and histologic distributions, the clinical features, and the treatment results for patients with primary gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Materials and Methods: One hundred thirty-two patients who were treated at 8 university hospitals and 2 general hospitals between January 1991 and December 2000 were enrolled to evaluate clinico-pathologic features. Results: The lower one-third of the stomach was the most frequent site ($42\%$), and the most frequent chief complaint was epigastric pain ($54\%$). Gastric resection was performed in 114 cases. Pathologic findings of preoperative endoscopic biopsy specimens from the 114 patients that underwent surgery were a gastric lymphoma in 94 cases ($82\%$), a carcinoma in 15 cases ($13\%$), an ulcer in 4 cases ($4\%$), and a gastrointestinal stromal tumor in 1 case ($1\%$). The stage distributions by Musshoff's criteria were 71 cases ($54\%$) of stage IE, 36 cases ($27\%$) of stage $II_{1}E$, 8 cases ($6\%$) of stage $II_{2}E$, 2 cases ($2\%$) of stage IIIE, and 15 cases ($11\%$) of stage IVE. Histologic gradings by the Working Formulation in were 31 cases ($23\%$) of low grade, 96 cases ($73\%$) of intermediate grade, and 5 cases ($4\%$) of high grade. Chemotherapy-related complications occurred in 25 cases ($22\%$) while operation-related complications occurred in 6 cases ($5\%$). Seventeen patients ($13\%$) only underwent surgery, 19 ($14\%$) had chemotherapy (CTx) and/or radiotherapy (RTx) only, and 96 patients ($73\%$) received surgery and CTx and/or RTx. No substantial differences in survival were found in relation to the different histologic grades and different treatments. The five-year survival was $85\%$ in stage I or II and $47\%$ in stage III or IV (P=0.0000). Conclusion: Pathologic stage appears to be the single most important prognostic indicator. Survival differences according to treatment modalities were not statistically significant. However, the low number of patients treated with various approaches over a long period precludes a firm conclusion.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2011

Purposes: Pancreatic injury is rare in abdominal trauma patients (3%~12%). but it could result in significant morbidity and even mortality. Early and adequate decision making are very important in the management of patients with traumatic pancreatic injury. The purpose of this study was to assess the kinds of management and outcome through the review of our experience of pancreatic injury with multiple trauma. Methods: We reviewed 17 patients with traumatic pancreas injury via electronic medical records from Jan. 2002 and April. 2011. We collected demographic findings; the type, location and grade of pancreas injury, the treatment modality, and patient's outcomes, such as complications, length of hospital stay (LOS), and mortality. Results: Total 17 patients were reviewed, and man was 13 (88%). Traffic accident was the most common cause of injury. Pancreas neck was the most common injured site, and occured in 5 patients. Ductal injury was detected in 7 cases. Eleven patients were treated by surgical procedure, and in this group, 3 patients underwent the endoscopic retrograde pancreas drainage procedure coincidently. ERPD was tried in 8 patients, and failed in 2 patients. The major complications were post-traumatic fluid collection and abscess which accounted for 70 % of all patients. The hospital stay was 35.9 days, and it was longer in patient with ductal injury ($38.0{\pm}18.56$ vs. $34.5{\pm}33.68$ days). Only one patient was died due to septic shock associated with an uncontrolled retroperitoneal abscess. Conclusion: Early diagnosis is the most important factor to apply the adequate treatment option and to manage the traumatic pancreas injury. Aggressive treatment should be considered in patients with a post-operative abscess.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.171-175
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• 2005

Background: Hyperhidrosis is the troublesome disorder of excessive perspiration, which affects as much as 0.15-1% of the population. There are many methods for treating hyperhidrosis. In this report, we present our experience of dorsal percutaneous thoracic sympathetic ganglion block (TSGB) using 99.9% ethyl alcohol for treating palmar hyperhidrosis. Methods: Between March 1992 and July 2003, a total of 856 patients underwent TSGB for the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis of which 625 were followed up for 2 years. There were 297 and 328 male and female patients, respectively, with a mean age of $23.9{\pm}7.7years$. TSGB was performed under fluoroscopic guidance using 99.9% ethyl alcohol at the T2 and T3 sympathetic ganglia. Results: In the 625 patients, the recurrence rates within the 1st and 2nd years were 29 and 8%, respectively. Compensatory sweating occurred in 42.1% of patients, which was severe in 7.5%. Of the 625 patients 21.0 and 36.9% were either very satisfied or relatively satisfied with the outcome, respectively. Conclusions: Our report confirms that TSGB may be a good alternative to endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2017

Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is common in laryngologic practice. In Korea, up to 1 out of every 5 patients who visit otorhinolaryngology clinic is supposed to have LPRD with symptoms and physical findings. Major symptoms of LPRD include hoarseness, cough, reflux symptom and mild dysphagia. Even though LPRD is common, its diagnosis may be difficult, because its symptoms are nonspecific and the laryngeal findings are not always associated with symptom severity. In Recent study, 66.4% of Patient who has LPRD also associated with esophageal motility disorders. Esophageal achalasia is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by an absence of peristalsis in the body of esophagus and nonrelaxing hypertension of the lower esophageal sphincter. Common cause is loss of ganglion cells in Auerbachs plexus. The classic triad of symptoms in achalasia includes dysphagia, regurgitation and weight loss. LPRD and esophageal achalasia have similar symptoms but have different treatment of choice. The Differentiation diagnosis of theses disease is important and should be established by history, radiologic examination and endoscopic examination. We recently assessed a 59-year-old female patient who complained of an epigastric pain, dysphagia and chronic cough. LPRD was initially diagnosed on Laryngoscopic examination and Reflux Symptom Index, but patient was not relieved of any symptoms after treatment of Proton Pump Inhibitor for 3 months. After high resolution manometry, esophageal achalasia was finally diagnosed. We report this case regarding the diagnosis and treatment with review of literatures because we have to think about esophageal motility disorders as a differential diagnosis in laryngology.

• Annals of Coloproctology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.317-321
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• 2018

Purpose: We evaluate the role of transanal tube drainage (TD) as a conservative treatment for patients with anastomotic leakage (AL). Methods: Patients treated for AL who had undergone a low or an ultralow anterior resection with colorectal or coloanal anastomosis for the treatment of rectal cancer between January 2013 and January 2017 were enrolled in this study. The data were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. The primary outcomes were the diagnosis and the management of AL. Results: Two hundred thirteen consecutive patients, 122 males and 91 females, were included. The mean age was $66.91{\pm}11.15years$, and the median body mass index was $24kg/m^2$ (range, $20-35kg/m^2$). The median tumor distance from the anal verge was 8 cm (range, 4-12 cm). Ninety-three patients (44%) received neoadjuvant therapy for nodal disease and/or locally advanced rectal cancer. Only 13 patients (6%) developed AL. Six patients developed subclinical AL as they had a defunctioning ileostomy at the time of the initial procedure. They were treated conservatively with TD under endoscopic guidance in the endoscopy unit and received intravenous antibiotics. Six weeks after discharge, these 6 patients underwent follow-up flexible sigmoidoscopy which showed a completely healed anastomotic defect with no residual stenosis. Seven patients developed a clinically significant AL and required reoperation with pelvic abscess drainage and Hartmann colostomy formation. Conclusion: These results suggest that TD for management of patients with AL is safe, cheap, and effective. Salvaging the anastomosis will help decrease the need for Hartmann colostomy formation. Proper patient selection is important.

• Journal of Minimally Invasive Surgery
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.148-153
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• 2018

Purpose: Single incision laparoscopic appendectomy (SILA) is a widely used surgical procedure for treatment of appendicitis with better cosmesis. However, many surgeons generally tend to choose conventional multiport laparoscopic appendectomy regarding with complicated appendicitis. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of SILA for treatment of complicated appendicitis by comparison with 3-ports conventional laparoscopic appendectomy (CLA). Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed appendicitis at single hospital during January 2015 to May 2017 collected 500 patients. Among 134 patients with complicated appendicitis, we compared outcomes for 29 patients who got SILA and 105 patients who got CLA. Results: 179 and 321 patients were treated by SILA and CLA, respectively. 134 (26.8%) patients were treated for complicated appendicitis, 29 patients by SILA and 105 patients by CLA, respectively. There was no case converted to open or added additional trocar in both groups. There were no differences in demographics with regard to age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and American society of anesthesiologists (ASA) scores. There was no difference in mean operating time ($58.97{\pm}18.53$ (SILA) vs. $57.57{\pm}21.48$ (CLA), p=0.751). The drain insertion rate (6.9% vs 37.1%, p=0.001) and the length of hospital stay ($2.76{\pm}1.41$ vs. $3.97{\pm}2.97$, p=0.035) were lower in SILA group with significance. There was no significant difference in the rate of surgical site infection (6.9% vs. 6.7%, p=1.000). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that SILA is a feasible and safe procedure for treatment of complicated appendicitis.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.38-49
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• 2023

Background/Aims: Patients with Barrett's esophagus are at increased risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic therapies aim to eradicate dysplastic and metaplastic tissues. Hybrid argon plasma coagulation (hybrid-APC) utilizes submucosal fluid injection to create a protective cushion prior to ablation that shields the submucosa from injury. We performed a pooled meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of hybrid-APC. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of major electronic databases in April 2022. Studies that included patients with dysplastic and non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus undergoing treatment with hybrid-APC were eligible for inclusion. Outcome measures included complete remission of intestinal metaplasia (CR-IM), stricture formation, serious adverse events, and number of sessions necessary to achieve CR-IM. Results: Overall pooled CR-IM rate for patients undergoing hybrid-APC was 90.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.872-0.939; I²=0%). Pooled stricture rate was 2.0% (95% CI, 0.005-0.042; I²=0%). Overall serious adverse event rate was 2.7% (95% CI, 0.007-0.055; I²=0%). Conclusions: Results of the current meta-analysis suggest that hybrid-APC is associated with high rates of CR-IM and a favorable safety profile. Interpretation of these results is limited by the inclusion of retrospective cohort and case series data. Randomized controlled trials that standardize treatment and outcome evaluation protocols are necessary to understand how this treatment option is comparable to the current standards of care.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2023

Pancreatic carcinosarcoma is a very rare malignancy with a poor prognosis. Because of these characteristics, a treatment strategy for it has not been established yet. The aim of this study was to establish a therapeutic strategy for pancreatic carcinosarcoma. We reviewed data of a 65-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with pancreatic carcinosarcoma through endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy before surgery. For literature review, we searched PubMed using terms of "Pancreatic" or "Pancreas" and "carcinosarcoma" or "carcinosarcomatous". The patient received 11 cycles of neoadjuvant treatment with leucovorin, fluorouracil, irinotecan, oxaliplatin and pembrolizumab because the tumor was borderline resectable. She underwent stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) with 35 Gy in 5 fractions, followed by robotic pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. After surgery, the patient received adjuvant chemotherapy in the same regimen as before surgery. She is alive without any recurrence. Among 48 patients within 33 available papers, the median survival time was 15 months. The survival rate of patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy tended to be higher than that of those who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy, although the difference was not statistically significant (median survival, 47 vs. 15 months; p = 0.485). Three patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a survival period of 13-23.5 months. Surgery with lymphadenectomy, adjuvant therapy, and neoadjuvant therapy are thought to help improve survival outcomes. Modern treatment approaches for conventional pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma could be applied to pancreatic carcinosarcoma.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.454-465
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Gastrointestinal bleeding is a significant and potentially lethal event. We aimed to review the efficiency and safety of self-assembling peptides for the treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Methods: We conducted a systematic search for studies describing the endoscopic use of self-assembling peptides for treatment or prevention of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract in a parallel, independent fashion. The primary outcomes were rates of successful initial hemostasis, delayed bleeding, and rebleeding. The secondary outcomes were adverse events and ease and volume of gel used. Results: Seventeen studies were analyzed. Overall success rate of self-assembling peptides in gastrointestinal bleeding was 87.7% (38%-100%), regardless of etiology or associated treatments. Rebleeding rate ranged from 0% to 16.2%, with a mean of 4.7%, and overall delayed bleeding rate was 5% (range, 0%-15.9%). Only three adverse events were reported in a pooled number of 815 patients. The volume of gel used varied (0.43 to 3.7 mL) according to indication and type of bleeding. Conclusions: The limited available data on the use of self-assembling peptides in gastrointestinal endoscopy suggest a high efficiency and good safety profile.