• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.156-164
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• 1985

To elucidate the effect of splenectomy on the development of experimental primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in mice, the death rate and survival time of mice infected intranasally with Naegleria fowleri trophozoites $5{\times}10^4$ cultivated in CGVS medium were compared according to the mouse age when splenectomy was done, and post-operation until experimental infection. Immunodigusion was undergone to detect the presence of serum antibod). due to N, fowleri infecttion in mice. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was done to compare the protein fractions of mouse serum in each experimental groups. In experiment I, splenectomy was done 3 weeks and infection 4 weeks after birth, the death rate of control, sham operated and splenectomized group were 100%, 85% and 95%, and the mean survival time after infection 7.3 days, 7.5 days and 7.8 days, respectively. In experiment II, splenectomy was undergone 3 weeks and infection 6 weeks after birth, the death rate of of control, sham operated and splenectomized group were 95%, 95% and 95%, and the mean survival time after infection 12.1 days, 11.5 days and 11.5 days, respectively. In experiment III, splenectomy was done 5 weeks and infection 6 weeks after birth, the death rate of control, sham operated and splenectomized group were 95%, 90% and 95%, and the mean survival time after infection 8.1 days, 8.3 days and 8.5 days, respectively. By Ouchterlony immunodigusion, anti-JV. fowleri antibody in the serum of mouse with primary amoebic meningoencephalitis was detected against a N. fowleri antigen, which was prepared by ultrasonication of N, fowleri trophozoites, each reacting two lines of precipitation. The patterns of serum fractions by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were different between control and sham operated groups from splenectomized group in fraction II, III and V, the sera of which were collected after N. fowleri infection. This results may be summarized as that splenectomy has no effect on the development of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in mice.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.4
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• pp.140-149
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• 2013

Background: Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), an important regulator of plasminogen activator system which controls degradation of extracellular membrane and progression of tumor cells, and PAI-1 gene polymorphic variants have been known as the prognostic biomarkers of non-small cell lung cancer patients. Recently, experimental in vitro study revealed that transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ initiated PAI-1 transcription through epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway. However, there is little clinical evidence on the association between PAI-1 A15T gene polymorphism and prognosis of Korean population with pulmonary adenocarcinoma and the influence of activating mutation of EGFR kinase domain. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 171 patients who were diagnosed with pulmonary adenocarcinoma and undergone EGFR mutation analysis from 1995 through 2009. Results: In all patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma, there was no significant association between PAI-1 A15T polymorphic variants and prognosis for overall survival. However, further subgroup analysis showed that the group with AG/AA genotype had a shorter 3-year survival time than the group with GG genotype in patients with EGFR mutant-type pulmonary adenocarcinoma (mean survival time, 24.9 months vs. 32.5 months, respectively; p=0.015). In multivariate analysis of 3-year survival for patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma harboring mutant-type EGFR, the AG/AA genotype carriers had poorer prognosis than the GG genotype carriers (hazard ratio, 7.729; 95% confidence interval, 1.414-42.250; p=0.018). Conclusion: According to our study of Korean population with pulmonary adenocarcinoma, AG/AA genotype of PAI-1 A15T would be a significant predictor of poor short-term survival in patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma harboring mutant-type EGFR.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.827-831
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• 2012

To determine the relationship between comorbidity and outcome after radical cystectomy in Chinese patients by using the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation (ACE)-27 index. Two-hundred-and-forty-six patients treated with radical cystectomy at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan Province, China between 2000 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Medical records were reviewed for age, gender, delayed time of radical cystectomy, urinary diversion type, pelvic lymphadenectomy status, TNM stage, and pathological grade. Comorbidity information was assessed by the ACE-27 index. The outcome measurement was overall survival. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to determine the association between comorbidity and outcome. The study population consisted of 215 (87.40%) males and 31 (12.60%) females with a mean age of $62{\pm}11$ years. Median duration of follow-up was $47{\pm}31$ months. A total of 151 (61.38%) patents died during follow-up. Of those, 118 (47.97%) had at least one comorbidity. According to the ACE-27 scores, 128 (52.03%) patients had no comorbidity, 79 (32.11%) had mild, 33 (13.41%) had moderate, and 6 (2.45%) had severe comorbidities. Multivariate analysis indicated that moderate (p=0.002) and severe (p<0.001) comorbidity was significantly associated with decreased overall survival. In addition, age ${\geq}70$ years (p=0.002), delayed time of radical cystectomy >12 weeks (p=0.044), pelvic lymphadenectomy status (p=0.014), and TNM stage >T3 (p<0.001) were determined to be independent risk factors of overall survival. Increasing severity of comorbidity statistically correlated with decreased overall survival after radical cystectomy.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.111-124
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• 2002

Purpose : Although the average life expectancy has increased due to advances in medicine, mortality due to cancer is on an increasing trend. Consequently, the number of terminally ill cancer patients is also on the rise. Predicting the survival period is an important issue in the treatment of terminally ill cancer patients since the choice of treatment would vary significantly by the patents, their families, and physicians according to the expected survival. Therefore, we investigated the prognostic factors for increased mortality risk in terminally ill cancer patients to help treat these patients by predicting the survival period. Methods : We investigated 31 clinical parameters in 157 terminally ill cancer patients admitted to in the Department of Family Medicine, National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital between July 1, 2000 and August 31, 2001. We confirmed the patients' survival as of October 31, 2001 based on medical records and personal data. The survival rates and median survival times were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test was used to compare the differences between the survival rates according to each clinical parameter. Cox's proportional hazard model was used to determine the most predictive subset from the prognostic factors among many clinical parameters which affect the risk of death. We predicted the mean, median, the first quartile value and third quartile value of the expected lifetimes by Weibull proportional hazard regression model. Results : Out of 157 patients, 79 were male (50.3%). The mean age was $65.1{\pm}13.0$ years in males and was $64.3{\pm}13.7$ years in females. The most prevalent cancer was gastric cancer (36 patients, 22.9%), followed by lung cancer (27, 17.2%), and cervical cancer (20, 12.7%). The survival time decreased with to the following factors; mental change, anorexia, hypotension, poor performance status, leukocytosis, neutrophilia, elevated serum creatinine level, hypoalbuminemia, hyperbilirubinemia, elevated SGPT, prolonged prothrombin time (PT), prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), hyponatremia, and hyperkalemia. Among these factors, poor performance status, neutrophilia, prolonged PT and aPTT were significant prognostic factors of death risk in these patients according to the results of Cox's proportional hazard model. We predicted that the median life expectancy was 3.0 days when all of the above 4 factors were present, $5.7{\sim}8.2$ days when 3 of these 4 factors were present, $11.4{\sim}20.0$ days when 2 of the 4 were present, and $27.9{\sim}40.0$ when 1 of the 4 was present, and 77 days when none of these 4 factors were present. Conclusions : In terminally ill cancer patients, we found that the prognostic factors related to reduced survival time were poor performance status, neutrophilia, prolonged PT and prolonged am. The four prognostic factors enabled the prediction of life expectancy in terminally ill cancer patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.144-150
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• 1999

Background: Surgery has been considered the most effective and standard treatment modality in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). However in stage IIIA lung cancer, the role of surgery is still controversial. To evaluate the role of surgery for stage IIIA NSCLC, we investigated the survival after surgery and the prognostic factors. Material and Method: We evaluated 158 consecutive cases of stage IIIA NSCLC patients operated on between 1990 and 1996. There were 130 male patients and 28 female patients, and the mean age was 58.5 years. All patients except one underwent lung resection beyond lobectomy and extended mediastinal dissection. Postoperative adjuvant therapy were undertaken in 145(94.8%) patients. All patients(153) were followed and the mean follow-up period was 21.4months. Result: Twenty nine cases of the postoperative complications developed in 25 patients (15.8%). There were 5 operative mortality cases(3.2%) and the main cause of death was acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Local or distant recurrences developed in 84 patients(54.9%). The 5-year survival of 153 patients was 29.6% and the median survival time was 18.0 months. The 5-year survival of non N2 disease group(36.8%) was better than that of N2 disease group(26.6%)(p=0.35) and the 5-year survival of squamous cell carcinoma (38.1%) was better than that of adenocarcinoma(25.7%)(p=0.39) however there were no significant differences. Regarding the postoperative adjuvant therapy, in combined therapy group(84 patients), radiotherapy group(37 patients) and chemotherapy group(24 patients), the 5-year survival were 31.3%, 32.4%, and 14.6% respectively. There was no difference of survival between radiotherapy and combined therapy group(p=0.31), however the survival of the combined therapy group was better than the chemotherapy group(p=0.005). The survival of the complete resection group(31.9%) was better than the incomplete resection group(16.6%) however there was no significant difference(p=0.19). Conclusion: These observations indicate that the good 5-year survival(29.6%) in patients with stage IIIA NSCLC result from the agressive surgical treatment including extensive mediastinal nodes dissection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2527-2530
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• 2015

Background: The cancer of the prostate risk assessment (CAPRA) score has been defined to predict prostate cancer recurrence based on the pre-clinical data, then pathological data have also been incorporated. Thus, CAPRA post-surgical (CAPRA-S) score has been developed based on six criteria (prostate specific antigen (PSA) at diagnosis, pathological Gleason score, and information on surgical margin, seminal vesicle invasion, extracapsular extension and lymph node involvement) for the prediction of post-surgical recurrences. In the present study, biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free probabilities after open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RP) were evaluated by the CAPRA-S scoring system and its three-risk level model. Materials and Methods: CAPRA-S scores (0-12) of our 240 radical prostatectomies performed between January 2000-May 2011 were calculated. Patients were distributed into CAPRA-S score groups and also into three-risk groups as low, intermediate and high. BCR-free probabilities were assessed and compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression. Ability of CAPRA-S in BCR detection was evaluated by concordance index (c-index). Results: BCR was present in 41 of total 240 patients (17.1%) and the mean follow-up time was $51.7{\pm}33.0$ months. Mean BCR-free survival time was 98.3 months (95% CI: 92.3-104.2). Of the patients in low, intermediate and high risk groups, 5.4%, 22.0% and 58.8% had BCR, respectively and the difference among the three groups was significant (P = 0.0001). C-indices of CAPRA-S score and three-risk groups for detecting BCR-free probabilities in 5-yr were 0.87 and 0.81, respectively. Conclusions: Both CAPRA-S score and its three-risk level model well predicted BCR after RP with high c-index levels in our center. Therefore, it is a clinically reliable post-operative risk stratifier and disease recurrence predictor for prostate cancer.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2018

Background/Objectives: Brain metastasis (BM) is a rare form of distant metastasis with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Patients with BM of PTC carry a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to contribute to the understanding of this disease by analyzing patients with BM of PTC. Materials & Methods: Between March 2003 and December 2013, the patient database was conducted to identify thyroid cancer patients treated. Among the 22,758 thyroid cancer patients, 14 (0.06 %) were identified to have metastasis to the brain during follow-up. The medical records of 14 patients with BM were retrospectively reviewed, focusing on the following: patient characteristics, synchronous or previous distant metastasis, treatments including whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and surgery, and characteristics on radiologic findings, time interval between first diagnosis of primary thyroid cancer and BM and survival after BM. Results: The mean age at initial diagnosis and BM were $50.9{\pm}15.8years$ and $61.3{\pm}12.7years$. The mean duration between initial diagnosis and BM was $10.4{\pm}7.9years$. Patients were treated with varied combinations of surgery, SRS and WBRT except 4 patients who had refused treatment. The median overall survival (OS) time after BM diagnosis was 10 months (range 1 - 19). Patients receiving treatment (WBRT and/or surgery, SRS) had a significant longer median OS of 16.5 months in comparison to 3.5 months for those treated without treatment. (p = 0.005) Conclusion: Patients who received aggressive treatment had a longer OS than those with only supportive care. Treatment such as surgery, SRS and WBRT should be considered in patients with BM.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.277-286
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• 2007

The edentulous posterior maxilla generally provides a limited amount of bone height because of atrophy of the ridge and pneumatization of the maxillary sinus, Maxillary sinus augmentation is one of the surgical techniques for reconstruction of the severely resorbed posterior maxilla. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the survival rate of implants and the long-term changes of graft height after maxillary sinus augmentation by lateral window approach. From September 1996 to July 2004, maxillary sinus augmentation with mixed grafts of autograft, allograft, xenograft and alloplast were performed on 45 patients and 100 implants were placed. We evaluated the survival rate of implants and the changes of BL(bone length)/IL(implant length) according to time using panoramic radiographs. The survival rate of implants was 91.0% for follow-up period. The mean reduction of graft heights was 0.34mm(3.0%) for 6 months and 1.22mm(1O.66%) for 3 years after augmentation. The total mean BL/IL was $1.34{\pm}0.21$ during 5 year observation period after augmentation and decreased slightly over time. The result means that graft materials were stable above the implant apex. BL/ILs of 1stage procedure were significantly decreased at 1-2 year, 3-4 year after augmentation and no statistically significant changes were observed in those of 2 stage procedure. The graft materials of both procedures were stable above the implant apex. No statistically significant changes of BL/IL were observed in the grafts combined with low amount of autogenous bone or without autogenous bone. The graft materials of both groups were stable above the implant apex. The results indicated that the placement of dental implants with maxillary sinus augmentation showed predictable clinical results and the grafts combined with low amount of autogenous bone or without autogenous bone had long-term resistance to resorption in maxillary sinus.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.23-28
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• 2018

Background/Objectives: Adenoid cystic carcinoma is the second most common salivary carcinoma. It occurs commonly in the submandibular gland, sublingual gland and minor salivary gland. Local recurrence and distant metastasis are the leading cause of death. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term oncologic outcomes of patients with head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma focusing on distant metastasis. Materials & Methods: We retrospectively studied 39 patients who were diagnosed with and treated for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck from December 1996 to May 2018. The clinicopathologic characteristics of patients such as age, sex, primary site and TNM stage, and treatment methods, recurrence and distant metastasis after treatment, survival rate, and treatment method for recurrence were analyzed. Results: Of 39 patients, 18 were males and 21 were females, and the mean age was $5.9{\pm}14.4$ (28-89) years. The most common primary site was oral cavity (12 cases), and followed by sino-nasal cavity (11 cases), parotid gland (5 cases), and etc. For treatment, 17 patients underwent surgery alone, 16 received surgery with postoperative radiation therapy, and 3 patients received radiation therapy only. Three patients refused any further treatments. Recurrence occurred in 15 patients. The most common site of recurrence was the lung. The mean time to recurrence was 31.7 months. The 5 and 10 years' overall survival rate was 79.3% and 74%, respectively. The 2 and 5 years' overall survival rate was 69.6% and 62.6% in patients with distant metastasis. Conclusion: Distant metastasis is an important prognostic factor in adenoid cystic carcinoma, and eventually one third of patients have distant metastasis, especially in the lung. An appropriate treatment for lung metastasis is necessary because some patients with pulmonary metastasis survive for a quite long time.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.397-404
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcome of leiomyosarcoma (LMS) of the somatic soft tissue and investigate the prognostic factors. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two patients with soft tissue LMS (extremities and trunk) between 2001 and 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. The local recurrence and metastasis after treatment were examined. The survival rates and prognostic factors affecting survival were investigated. Only patients followed-up more than one year were included. The mean follow-up time was 41 months (range, 7-163 months). Results: The overall survival rates at five-year and 10-year were 73.6% and 66.2%, respectively. The tumor size (p=0.018), grade (p=0.017), and local recurrence (p=0.04) affected survival. Metastases developed in 31.9% (23/72) and the median post metastasis survival was 15.6 months (range, 3-78 months). Conclusion: LMS of the soft tissue developed mainly at the lower extremity. The tumor size, grade, and local recurrence were associated with survival. Post metastatic survival was generally poor despite treatment.