• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.381-385
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• 2009

The first case of intracranial metastases of a cervical intramedullary low-grade astrocytoma without malignant transformation in adult is presented in this report. Seven years ago, a 45 year-old male patient underwent biopsy to confirm pathologic characteristics and received craniocervical radiation and chemotherapy for a grade II astrocytoma in the cervical spinal cord. Two years later, posterior fusion was necessary for progressive kyphosis in the cervical spine. He was well for approximately 7 years after the primary surgery. Two months ago, he presented with partial weakness and incoordination with gait difficulty. MRI Scan demonstrated multiple small lesions in the cerebellar vermis and left hemisphere. After suboccipital craniectomy and posterior cervical exposure, the small masses in the cerebellar vermis and hemispheres were excised to a large extent by guidance of an intraoperative navigation system. The tumor at the cervical and brain lesions was classified as an astrocytoma (WHO grade II). When a patient with low-grade astrocytoma in the spinal cord has new cranial symptoms after surgery, radiaton, and chemotherapy, the possibility of its metastasis should be suspected because it can spread to the intracranial cavity even without malignant transformation as shown in this case.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.657-663
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• 2020

Objective : Metaplastic meningioma is an extremely rare subtype of World Health Organization (WHO) grade I meningioma. It has distinctive histological subtypes according to its own mesenchymal components. Owing to its scarcity, clinical or radiological features of a metaplastic meningioma are poorly described. Methods : Between 2004 and 2018, we analyzed total 1814 cases surgically proven meningioma for 15 years. Among them, metaplastic meningioma was diagnosed in 11 cases. Magnetic resonance images were taken for all patients, and computed tomography scan was taken for 10 patients. Results : WHO grade I meningiomas were 1376 cases (75.9%), 354 cases (19.5%) in WHO grade II, and 84 cases (4.6%) in WHO grade III meningiomas. Metaplastic meningioma was 11 cases as 0.8% of WHO grade I meningioma and 0.6% of entire meningiomas for 15 years. Among the entire 11 metaplastic meningiomas, five tumors (45%) were diagnosed as a lipomatous subtype with rich fat components, four (36%) as an osseous subtype with extensive bone formation and two (18%) as a xanthomatous subtype. There was no cartilaginous subtype metaplastic meningioma in our study. Lipomatous and osseous metaplastic meningioma have peculiar radiological characteristics according to mesenchymal components. Conclusion : We investigated a rare metaplastic meningioma subtype based on our 15-year surgical experience with meningiomas. Further investigation will be necessary for the clear clarification of tumor nature of this rare tumor.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.376-384
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to enhance the satisfaction of paramedics on the refreshment training by identifying the status and requests of 389 Grade I and II paramedics who participated in refreshment training and providing appropriate training according to job requirements, and to provide basic materials for the effective operation. From the study, in 'Status and Difference of Refreshment Training of Grade I and II Paramedics', statistically significant items were found to be 'Satisfaction level of Refreshment Training'(p=0.002), 'Training should be separated according to qualifications.'(p=0.000),'Refreshment training registration fee was appropriate.'(p=0.027), 'Necessity level of evaluation after the refreshment training'(p=0.007). The most appropriate theme for refreshment training' was found to be ALS among Grade I (42.3%) and Grade II (31.1%), but it was not statistically significant (p=0.224). In 'Refreshment Training Enhancement Requirements', both Grade I (29.5%) and Grade II (31.2%) paramedics wanted 'qualitative enhancement of contents' most, which was not statistically significant (p=0.664). Additionally, 'the most appropriate theme for refreshment training' was found to be ALS in 'hospitals' (46.3%) and 'non-hospitals' (28.6), and comparing to 'hospitals' 'non-hospitals' showed approximately 12% higher requirements on 'Laws and the latest medical information'. According to results, it is recommended to separate training for Grade I and Grade II paramedics and reflect requests of the field to refreshment training so as to enhance the quality and satisfaction of refreshment training.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.153-163
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• 2014

Objectives : To investigate the clinical results of patients who were diagnosed with grade II spondylolithesis treated with Korean medicine of relaxative Chuna and Gangchuk herbal medicine. Methods : We reviewed medical records of four patients diagnosed with grade II spondylolisthesis. Each patient has taken intensive Korean medical admission treatment at Mokhuri Hospital. All patients received treatments of Gangchuk herbal medicine, relaxative Chuna and acupuncture during admission period. Before treatment and every after 7-day treatment the patient's pain and walking distance without pain were assessed. The zero minimum to ten maximum pain numeric rating scale(NRS) was used to determine the degree of pain. Results : Average admission duration was 23 days. All the patients' NRS decreased from median figure of 7.5[the minimum 7 to the highest 8] to median figure of 1[the minimum 0 to the highest 2]. Walking distance without pain increased from a median of 55 m[the minimum 20 m to the highest 100 m] to median of 165 m[the minimum 100 m to the highest 250 m]. Conclusions : Intensive conservative korean medical treatment was effective in reducing pain and functional improvement for grade II lumbar spondylosisthesis patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.344-349
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• 2016

Background: Monocusp reconstruction with a transannular patch (TAP) results in early improvement because it relieves residual volume hypertension during the immediate postoperative period. However, few reports have assessed the long-term surgical outcomes of this procedure. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the mid-term surgical outcomes of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair using monocusp reconstruction with a TAP. Methods: Between March 2000 and March 2009, 36 patients with a TOF received a TAP. A TAP with monocusp reconstruction (group I) was used in 25 patients and a TAP without monocusp reconstruction (group II) was used in 11 patients. We evaluated hemodynamic parameters using echocardiography during the follow-up period in both groups. Results: At the most recent follow-up echocardiography (mean follow-up, 8.2 years), the mean pulmonary valve velocities of the patients in group I and group II were $2.1{\pm}1.0m/sec$ and $0.9{\pm}0.9m/sec$, respectively (p=0.001). Although the incidence of grade 3-4 pulmonary regurgitation (PR) was not significantly different between the two groups (group I: 16 patients, 64.0%; group II: 7 patients, 70.0%; p=0.735) during the follow-up period, the interval between the treatment and the incidence of PR aggravation was longer in group I than in group II (group I: $6.5{\pm}3.4years$; group II: $3.8{\pm}2.2years$; p=0.037). Conclusion: Monocusp reconstruction with a TAP prolonged the interval between the initial treatment and grade 3-4 PR aggravation. Patients who received a TAP with monocusp reconstruction to repair TOF were not to progress to pulmonary stenosis during the follow-up period as those who received a TAP without monocusp reconstruction.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2703-2706
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was to determine the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed based chemotherapy in treating patients with metastatic gastric cancer who failed to respond to first and (or) second line chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: Metastatic gastric cancer patients who failed first and (or) second line chemotherapy, were enrolled. All patients were recruited from Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Research Institute, and were treated with pemetrexed $500mg/m2$ (intravenous; on day 1), and a platinum (or irinotecan) every 3 weeks until disease progression, or intolerable toxicity. Evaluation on efficacy was conducted after two cycles of chemotherapy using the Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors. Toxicity was recorded according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. Results: From Jun 2011 to May 2013, 23 patients were enrolled. All eligible 23 patients completed at least 2 cycles of chemotherapy with pemetrexed based chemotherapy, and were evaluable. Their median age was 55 years (range 40 to 78 years). Seventeen patients were male and 6 female. Three patients (13%) achieved partial response, five patients (22%) stable, 15 patients (65%) with disease progression, and none with complete response. Grade 2 neutrophil suppression occurred in 4.3%, grade 3 in 13% of patients, and no grade 4 was reported. Thrombocytopenia was encountered as follows: 4.3% grade 2, 4.3% grade 3 and 4.3% grade 4. Incidence of anemia was 34.8% in grade 2, 8.7% grade 3 and 0% grade 4. Only 4.3% of patients required packed red blood cell infusion. Elevated transaminase were 4.3% in grade 2 and 0% in grade 3 or 4. Other toxicity included oral mucositis. Conclusions: Pemetrexed based chemotherapy is mildly effective in treating patients with metastatic gastric cancer with tolerable toxicity.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 2014

Objective : Meningioma is the second most common primary central nervous system neoplasm. In contrast, chordoid meningioma is rare; due to the paucity of cases, little is known about its clinical features or treatment outcomes. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes for patients with chordoid meningioma. Methods : In total, 16 patients, with newly diagnosed chordoid meningioma who underwent surgical excision between 1999 and 2012 were included. We retrospectively evaluated the medical records, radiological findings, and pathological findings. The median follow-up period was 56.5 (range, 3-170) months. The MIB-1 labeling index ranged from 1 to 26.60% (median, 5.04). Results : Simpson grade I, II, and III resections were performed in four, nine, and three patients, respectively. The overall recurrence rate was 37.5%. Overall progression-free survival (PFS) after resection was 94.7 months (95% CI=62.9-126.6). Of the 4 patients with Simpson grade I resection, recurrence occurred in one patient. Among the Simpson grade II and III resection groups, eight patients underwent adjuvant radiation therapy and they showed significantly longer PFS (121 months, 95% CI=82.1-159.9) than the patients who underwent surgery alone (40.5 months, 95% CI=9.6-71.3) by the log-rank test (p<0.05). Conclusion : Chordoid meningiomas are difficult to manage and have a high rate of recurrence. Complete resection of the tumor is a key determinant of better outcomes. Adjuvant radiation therapy is recommended, eparticulary when Simpson grade I resection was not achieved.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2679-2681
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• 2016

Background: Gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NEN) are relatively rare tumors, not equally distributed in gastro-intestinal system. In 2010, a revised version of the WHO classification of GEP-NENs was published. This study reports for the first time the distribution and characteristics of GEP-NEN in a Lebanese population. Materials and Methods: This descriptive retrospective study concerns all the digestive neuroendocrine tumors with their characteristics diagnosed in $H\hat{o}tel$ Dieu de France in Beirut, Lebanon from 2001 to 2012, all the pathology reports being reanalyzed according to the latest WHO 2010 classification. The characteristics and features of GEP-NEN analyzed in this study were age, gender, grade and site. Results: A total of 89 GEP-NENs were diagnosed, representing 28.2% of all neuroendocrine tumors. The mean age of GEP-NEN patients was 58.7 years and the M/F sex ratio was 1.2. The primary localization was as follows: 21.3%(19) pancreatic, 18% (16) gastric, 15.7% (14) duodenal, 11.2% (10) appendix, 10.1% (9) intestinal, 10.1% (9) colorectal (7.9% colonic and 2.2% rectal), 5.6% (4) hepatic, 2.2% (2) ampulla, 1.1% (1) esophageal and 7.9%(5) NOS digestive (metastatic with unknown primary). Of the 89 patients with GEP-NEN, 56.2% (50) were diagnosed as grade I, 11.2% (10) as grade II, 20.2% (18) as grade III and 12.4% (11) were considered as mixed adeno-neuroendocrine carcinomas (MANEC). Conclusions: This study, one of the rare examples based on the 2010 WHO classification of neuroendocrine tumors in the literature, indicates that in the Lebanese population, all duodenal and appendicular tumors are G1 and the majority of MANEC tumors are gastric and pancreatic tumors. Moreover, more duodenal tumors and fewer rectal tumors were encountered in our study compared to European reports.

• Brain Tumor Research and Treatment
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.97-100
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• 2018

Meningioma is relatively common, benign, and extra-axial tumor accounting for about 20% of primary brain and spinal cord tumors. The World Health Organization (WHO) classified these tumors into Grade I (benign), Grade II (atypical), and Grade III (anaplastic) meningioma. Grade I meningioma which is slowly growing tumor and have some rare subtypes. Among them, metaplastic subtype is defined as a tumor containing focal or widespread mesenchymal components including osseous, cartilaginous, lipomatous, myxoid or xanthomatous tissue, singly or in combinations. We report a rare metaplastic meningioma overspreading nearly whole cerebral convexity from main extra-axial tumor bulk in the parietal lobe.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.176-182
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• 2006

Objective : This study concernes the usefulness of $^{11}C-methyl-L-and$ D-methionine[Met]-positron emission tomography[PET] for glioma grading and detection of recurrence in gliomas, compared with fluorine-18, 2-fluoro-deoxyglucose[FDG]-PET. Methods : Eighty patients underwent Met-PET study for evaluation of glioma : 37 astrocytomas [WHO grade II, 3; III, 8; IV, 26]. 27 oligodendrogliomas [WHO grade II, 16; III, 11]. and 12 suspicious recurrent gliomas. All images were taken within 2 weeks before operation. For suspicious recurrent cases on magnetic resonance images, both FDG-PET and Met-PET were performed. Results : In astrocytoma, Mean maximum standard uptake value[SUV] of region of interest[ROI] was not different between WHO grades [p=0.108]. but ROI/normal contralateral tissue SUV [T/N] ratio was statistically different between WHO grades [p=0.002]. T/N ratio was more closely related to visual scale than maximum SUV of ROI [p<0.001 and p=0.107 respectively]. In oligodendroglioma, there was no statistical difference between WHO grades in view of maximum SUV and T/N ratio. For recurrent gliomas, sensitivity of FDG-PET and Met-PET was 25% and 100%, while specificity of FDG-PET and Met-PET were 100% and 80%, respectively. Conclusion : Met-PET might be an appropriate tool for tumor grading in astrocytoma and be more sensitive for detection of recurrence in gliomas than FDG-PET.