• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.4
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• pp.274-281
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• 2016

Background: Factors associated with the prognosis of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is relatively unknown, than of those with non-small cell lung cancer. This study was undertaken to identify the prognostic factors of SCLC. Methods: The medical records of 333 patients diagnosed with SCLC at tertiary hospital from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized by age (${\leq}65$ years vs. >65 years) and by extent of disease (limited disease [LD] vs extensive disease [ED]). Overall survival and progression free survival rates were determined. Factors associated with prognosis were calculated using Cox's proportional hazard regression model. Results: Most baseline characteristics were similar in the LD and ED groups. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS), first chemotherapy regimen, and prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) differed significantly in patients with LD and ED. Mean ECOG PS was significantly lower (p<0.001), first-line chemotherapy with etoposide-cisplatin was more frequent than with etoposide-carboplatin (p<0.001), and PCI was performed more frequently (p=0.019) in LD-SCLC than in ED-SCLC. Prognosis in the LD group was better in younger (${\leq}65$ years) than in older (>65 years) patients, but prognosis in the ED group was unrelated to age. Conclusion: This study showed that overall survival (OS) was significantly improved in younger than in older patients with LD-SCLC. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that age, PCI and the sum of cycles were significant predictors of OS in patients with LD-SCLC. However, prognosis in the ED group was unrelated to age.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2011

Purpose: Bone metastasis from stomach cancer occurs only rarely and it is known to have a very poor prognosis. This study examined the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients who were diagnosed with stomach cancer and bone metastasis. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 19 patients who were diagnosed with stomach cancer at Hanyang University Medical Center from June 1992 to August 2010 and they also had bone metastasis. The survival rate according to many clinicopathologic factors was retrospectively analyzed. Results: 11 patients out of 18 patients (61%) who received an operation were in stage IV and the most common bone metastasis location was the spine. Bone scintigraphy was mostly used for diagnosing bone metastasis and PET-CT and magnetic resonance imaging were used singly or together. The serum alkaline phosphatase at the time of diagnosis had increased in 12 cases and there were clinical symptoms (bone pain) in 16 cases. Treatment was given to 14 cases and it was mostly radiotherapy. There were 2 cases of discovering bone metastasis at the time of diagnosing stomach cancer. The interval after operation to the time of diagnosing bone metastasis for the 18 cases that received a stomach cancer operation was on average $14.9{\pm}17.3$ months and the period until death after the diagnosis of bone metastasis was on average $3.8{\pm}2.6$ months. As a result of univariate survival rate analysis, the group that was treated for bone metastasis had a significantly better survival period when the bone metastasis was singular rather than multiple, as compared to the non-treatment group, yet both factors were not independent prognosis factors on multivariate survival analysis. Conclusions: An examination to confirm the status of bone metastasis when conducting a radio-tracer test after the initial diagnosis and also after an operation is needed for stomach cancer patients, and bone scintigraphy is the most helpfully modality. Making the diagnosis at the early stage and suitable treatments are expected to enhance the survival rate and improve the quality of life even for the patients with bone metastasis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2495-2499
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• 2015

Mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase kinase 3 (MEKK3) is an important serine/threonine protein kinase and a member of the MAPK family. MEKK3 can effectively activate the MEK/ERK signaling pathway and promote an autocrine growth loop critical for tumor genesis, cell proliferation, terminal differentiation, apoptosis and survival. To explore the relationship between MEKK3 and cell apoptosis, clinicopathology and prognosis, we characterize the expression of MEKK3, pERK and FoxP3 in the renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC). Protein expression was detected by tissue microarray and immunochemistry in 46 cases of RCCC and 28 control cases. Expression levels of CD3+,CD3+CD4+,CD3+CD8+,CD4+CD25+, CD4+CD25+ FoxP3+ were assessed by flow cytometry and analyzed for their association with pathological factors, correlation and prognosis in RCCC. Expression of MEKK3, pERK and FoxP3 was significantly up-regulated in RCCC as compared to control levels (p<0.01), associated with pathological grade (p<0.05)and clinical stage (p<0.05). CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells were also significantly increased in RCCC patients (p<0.05). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that MEKK3, pERK expression and patholigical stage were independent prognostic factors in patients with RCCC (p<0.05). MEKK3 can be used as an important marker of early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation in RCCC. It may be associated with imbalance of anti-tumor immunity and overexpression of pERK. Expression of MEKK3 and pERK are significantly increased in RCCC, with protein expression and clinical stage acting as independent prognostic factors.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1628-1633
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• 2000

Objective : The incidence of primary CNS lymphoma(PCNSL) has been increasing recently. The purpose of this study is to establish of prognostic factors and treatment options for PCNSL. Methods : Thirty-one PCNSL patients were treated in our institute between 1985 and 1997. All patients were histologically confirmed via stereotactic biopsy or open biopsy. The authors retrospectively analyzed clinical characteristics of PCNSL and prognostic factors, including histological cell types, immunohistological cell types and treatment options of PCNSL. Our data were statistically analyzed using Kaplan Meier survival curve and multivariated ANOVA test. Results : The clinical and radiological characteristics of PCNSL were resembled to those of other reports. The most common histological subtype was diffuse large cell type(55.5%). In immunohistolgical study, the incidence of T-cell lymphoma(35.7%) was very higher than that of others. The radiotherapy could prolonged patients' survival(p=0.021). One-year and 3-year survival rate of PCNSL were 66.9% and 45.9%, respectively. One-year survival rate of B cell and T cell lymphoma were 72.7% and 50.0%, respectively. The patients with B-cell lymphoma showed better prognosis than patients with T-cell lymphoma(p=0.049). Conclusion : On the basis of our data, active radiotherapy could prolong patients' survival. the T-cell lymphoma revealed higher incidence than those of other reports and had poor prognosis than that of B cell lymphoma.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the differences between clinical and quantitative sensory testing (QST) results among persistent idiopathic dentoalveolar pain (PIDP), inflammatory dental pain, and control group subjects to identify discriminative clinical features for differential diagnosis. Methods: Thirty-three patients (5 PIDP-a without surgical procedures 10 PIDP-b with surgical procedures, 8 dental pain patients, and 10 controls) were evaluated for clinical features and QST results. Cold pain threshold, heat pain threshold, mechanical pain threshold (MPT), mechanical pain sensitivity, and pressure pain threshold (PPT) were performed. Psychological factors were assessed using Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R) and a chart review was conducted to evaluate additional discriminative clinical features such as pain quality and treatment prognosis. Results: The dental pain group had lower PPT than the PIDP-b and the control group. The PIDP-a group showed higher MPT and PPT than the PIDP-b and dental pain group but the difference was not statistically significant. Differences in SCL-90-R SOM (Somatization), O-C (obsessive-compulsive), ANX (anxiety), and PSY (Psychoticism) values were statistically significant among groups. PIDP-a and PIDP-b groups showed remaining symptoms after treatment and the pain tended to spread widely, whereas, in toothache patients, symptoms disappeared after treatment. However, factors that confound the diagnosis, such as an increase in pain during chewing and a decrease in the pain threshold at the affected site, could also be identified. Conclusions: PIDP and dental pain groups have distinct clinical symptoms, but there are also factors that cause confusing in diagnosis. Therefore, various clinical examination results should be carefully reviewed and comprehensively evaluated in the differential diagnosis process.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1007-1010
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• 2015

Background: The clinical significance of bilateral breast cancer is unclear and its influence on prognosis is controversial. Materials and Methods: Between 2005 and 2009 we identified 110 cases of bilateral breast cancer (BBC) ; 49 patients had synchronous (duration between the occurrence of carcinoma in both breasts was less than 12 months) and 61 had metachronous (duration was more than one year with no ipsilateral local recurrence). We compared the patient characteristics including age, menopausal status, clinical stage, tumor size, histological classification, lymph node status, and hormone receptor and Her-2 status. We also compared the treatment given and overall and disease free survival (DFS) of both groups. Results: Synchronous cases tend to present more aggressively than metachronous cases and age at first presentation adversely affects survival. The 5 year overall survival was 78.7% for metachronous and 60% for synchronous. Patients with positive hormonal status had better five year disease free survival in metachronous compared to synchronous cases, at 76% and 63%, respectively. Age at first presentation >45years had better DFS (65%) compared to those with age ${\leq}45$ years (52%) at 5 years follow up. Conclusions: Patients with synchronous breast cancer may have worse prognosis. Young age and hormone receptor negative were risk factors in our study. Close follow up and early detection of contralateral breast cancer is mandatory.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2011

Background: The incidence of abdominal trauma with intra-abdominal organ injury or bowel rupture is increasing. Articles on the diagnosis, symptoms and treatment of small bowel perforation due to blunt trauma have been reported, but reports on the relationship of mortality and morbidity to clinical factors for prognosis are minimal. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the morbidity and mortality of patients with small bowel perforation after blunt abdominal trauma on the basis of clinical examination and to analyze factors associated with the prognosis for blunt abdominal trauma with small bowel perforation. Methods: The clinical data on patients with small bowel perforation due to blunt trauma who underwent emergency surgery from January 1994 to December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The correlation of each prognostic factor to morbidity and mortality, and the relationship among prognostic factors were analyzed. Results: A total of 83 patients met the inclusion criteria: The male was 81.9%. The mean age was 45.6 years. The mean APACHE II score was 5.75. The mean time interval between injury and surgery was 395.9 minutes. The mean surgery time was 111.1 minutes. Forty seven patients had surgery for ileal perforations, and primary closure was done for 51patients. The mean admission period was 15.3 days, and the mean fasting time was 4.5 days. There were 6 deaths (7.2%), and 25 patients suffered from complications. Conclusion: The patient's age and the APACHE II score on admission were important prognostic factors that effected a patient's progress. Especially, this study shows that the APACHE II score had effect on the operation time, admission period, the treatment period, the fasting time, the mortality rate, and the complication rate.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.299-305
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• 2009

Purpose: Recently, the incidence of malignant melanoma has been steadily increasing. Malignant melanoma is already known to have poorer prognosis than other primary skin cancers. Despite the poor prognosis, it is relatively less known to the public so that a number of patients visit hospital carrying advanced stage tumor. Yet, extensive study about malignant melanoma is currently insufficient, and specific guidelines and statistical figures in Korea are almost inexistent. Therefore, authors reviewed patients with malignant melanoma who have visited our hospital for last 14 years. Methods: Between January 1994 and January 2008, 62 patients were diagnosed with malignant melanoma at our hospital. A retrospective study was performed with data from patients' charts and biopsy results. Annual incidence, mean age of onset, gender, tumor location, tumor thickness, pathologic ulceration, clinicopathologic subtype, and clinical AJCC stage were evaluated. Analysis of factors associated with survival were performed using the Cox proportional hazard model. Kaplan - Meier method was used to generate survival curves. Results: Clinicopathologic features of 62 patients (32 male, 30 female) with average age of 57 years were evaluated. Most lesions were found in lower limb, and the most common subtype was acral lentiginous melanoma. We could also find that age, tumor thickness, and clinical stage were the only significant prognostic factors. Conclusion: Clinicopathologic features of malignant melanoma were analyzed in this study, but the result is not ready to be generalized because the number of cases is too small. Further study must be performed to report clinical guidelines for prognosis and treatment for malignant melanoma patients in Korea.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of intensive care unit (ICU) patients admitted or died in the emergency medical center with acute-poisoning to investigate the variables related to the prognosis. Methods: The data were collected from poisoning patients admitted or died in the emergency medical center of a general hospital located in Seoul, from January 2014 to February 2020. The subjects of this study were 190 patients. The medical records were screened retrospectively, and the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients in the emergency room (ER) and ICU were examined to investigate the contributing factors that influence the poor prognosis. Results: The study analyzed 182 patients who survived after being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The results are as follows. The mental change (87.4%) was the most common symptom. Sedative poisoning (49.5%) was the commonest cause. For most patients, pneumonia (26.9%) was the most common complication. Hypotension (23.7%), tachycardia (42.1%), fever (15.8%), seizures (10.5%), dyspnea (2.6%), high poisoning severity score (PSS), type of toxic material, mechanical ventilator application (39.5%), inotropes application (39.5%), and pneumonia (55.3%) were correlated the LOS over 5 days in the ICU. 8 patients died. In the case of death pesticides and carbon monoxide were the main toxic materials; tachycardia, bradycardia, and hypotension were the main symptoms, and a mechanical ventilator and inotropes were applied. Conclusion: Patients with unstable vital signs, high PSS, and non-pharmaceutical poisoning had a prolonged LOS in the ICU and a poor prognosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.785-792
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• 1994

In this study, the authors analyzed the prognostic value of four clinical variables[age and sex of patients, association with myasthenia gravis and clinical stage] and histological type in 30 consecutive patients with thymoma, histologically classified as cortical[10],medullary[5] and mixed[15]type according to Marino and Muller-Hermelink classification. There were significant differences between the histological types in the frequency of the different tumor stages and myasthenia gravis and prognosis.Most of the cortical thymomas were at stage III and all of the medullary and most of the mixed tumors at stage I or II.Myasthenia gravis occurred more commonly in patients with cortical[30%] and mixed thymoma[60%] than in patients with medullary thymoma[10%]. Follow-up was conducted in 30 patients,with follow-up range from 3 months to 120 months[mean,47.3months]. 5 year actuarial survival was 100% for medullary thymoma, 73% for mixed thymoma, and 47% for cortical thymoma.The overall survival curve shows that 87.6% of the patients are alive at 2 years and 72.8% at 5 years. And 7 patients was dead during follow-up periods.By Kaplan-Meier technique, we found that the patients who had myasthenia gravis had better prognosis[P<0.05]. Medullary thymoma is a comparatively rare, benign tumor, and usually not associated with myasthenia gravis. Cortical thymoma must be regarded as malignant. Mixed thymoma is intermediate in its behavior between medullary and cortical thymoma. But these tumors should be considered potentially malignant despite of presence as stage I of II disease. Also, the patients with stageI,II had good prognosis and the patients with total resection had good prognosis[P<0.05].