• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2793-2796
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• 2014

Background: Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) is a highly aggressive tumor with median survival of approximately 14 months. Management consists of maximal surgical resection followed by post-operative chemoradiation with concurrent then adjuvant temozolamide. The standard radiotherapy dose is 60Gy in 2-Gy fractions recommended by the radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG). With the vast majority of tumor recurrences occurring within the previous irradiation field and the poor outcome associated with standard therapy, regimens designed to deliver higher radiation doses to improve local control and enhance survival are needed. In this study, we report a single institutional experience in treatment of 68 consecutive patients with GBM, treated with resection, and given post-operative radiotherapy followed by concurrent and/or adjuvant chemotherapy. Results: Of the 80 patients who entered this study, 68 completed the treatment course; 45 (66.2%) males and 23 (33.8%) females with a mean age at diagnosis of $49.0{\pm}12.9$ (21-75) years. At a median follow up of 19 months, 39 (57.3%) patients had evidence of tumor progression and 36 (52.9%) had died. The median over all survival for all patients was 16 months and progression free survival for all patients was 6.02 months. All potential prognostic factors were analyzed to evaluate their effects on overall survival. Age ${\leq}50$ year, concurrent and adjuvant chemotherapy and extent of surgery had significant p values. We found lower progression rate among patients who received higher doses of radiotherapy (>60Gy). Higher radiation doses improved progression free survival (p=0.03). Despite increasing overall survival, this elevation was not significant. Conclusions: This study emphasize that higher radiation doses of (>60Gy) can improve local control and potentially survival, so we strongly advise prospective multi centric studies to evaluate the role of higher doses of radiotherapy on GBM patient outcome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.108-112
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• 2000

Objective : Many authors suggest that patients with traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage(tSAH) visible on first CT after heve injury had a significantly worse prognosis than patients who do not. The aim of this study is to identify patients with tSAH who present with a bad prognosis by reviewing their clinicoradiological features and plan appropriate treatments. Patients and Methods : We reviewed and analysed the factors that influenced discharge outcomes in 172 patients with tSAH for a 3-year period. The outcome was divided into good(good recovery and moderate disability of glasgow outcome scale) and good(severe disability, vegetative state and death). Results : A regression analysis of statistical significant factors(p<0.05) among the clinical and CT features ranked them by descending order of contribution to Glasgow Outcome Scale(GOS) scores at the time of discharge from acute hospitalization as follows 1) clinical : admission Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS), hypotension, CT grade, abnormal APTT, skull fracture, hyperglycemia(>160mg/dl), hypoxia, operation, 2) CT : basal cistern effacement(BCE), mass lesion, cortical sulcal effacement(CSE), midline shift. Conclusion : We have also experienced that the CT grading scale proposed by Green et al is a simple and useful prognostic factor. The authors believe that the patients with high CT grade need adjuvant therapies as of well surgery but it seems mandatory to consider early identification and correction of hypotension, hyperglycemia, and hypoxia in emergency setting.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.223-231
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• 2015

Purpose: Delayed, traumatic, intraparenchymal hemorrhage (DTIPH) is a well-known contributing factor to secondary brain damage that evokes severe brain edema and intracranial hypertension. Once it has occurred, it adversely affects the patient's outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognosis factors for DTIPH by comparing clinical, radiological and hematologic results between two groups of patients according to whether surgical treatment was given or not. Methods: The author investigated 26 patients who suffered DTIPH during the recent consecutive five-year period. The 26 patients were divided according to their having undergone either a decompressive craniectomy (n=20) or continuous conservative treatment (n=6). A retrospective investigation was done by reviewing their admission records and radiological findings. Results: This incidence of DTIPH was 6.6% among the total number of patients admitted with head injuries. The clinical outcome of DTIPH was favorable in 9 of the 26 patients (34.6%) whereas it was unfavorable in 17 patients (65.4%). The patients with coagulopathy had an unexceptionally high rate of mortality. Among the variables, whether the patient had undergone a decompressive craniectomy, the patient's preoperative clinical status, and the degree of midline shift had significant correlations with the ultimate outcome. Conclusion: In patients with DTIPH, proper evaluation of preoperative clinical grading and radiological findings can hamper deleterious secondary events because it can lead to a swift and proper decompressive craniectomy to reduce the intracranial pressure. Surgical decompression should be carefully selected, paying attention to the patient's accompanying injury and hematology results, especially thrombocytopenia, in order to improve the patient's neurologic outcomes.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.308-321
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• 2015

Objective: The efficacy of mandibular advancement devices (MADs) in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) ranges between 42% and 65%. However, it is still unclear which predictive factors can be used to select suitable patients for MAD treatment. This study aimed to systematically review the literature on the predictive value of cephalometric analysis for MAD treatment outcomes in adult OSA patients. Methods: The MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched through December 2014. Reference lists from the retrieved publications were also examined. English language studies published in international peer-reviewed journals concerning the predictive value of cephalometric analysis for MAD treatment outcome were considered for inclusion. Two review authors independently assessed eligibility, extracted data, and ascertained the quality of the studies. Results: Fifteen eligible studies were identified. Most of the skeletal, dental, and soft tissue cephalometric measurements examined were widely recognized as not prognostic for MAD treatment outcome; however, controversial and limited data were found on the predictive role of certain cephalometric measurements including cranial base angle, mandibular plane angle, hyoid to mandibular plane distance, posterior nasal spine to soft-palate tip distance, anterior nasal spine to epiglottis base distance, and tongue/oral cross sectional area ratio thus justifying additional studies on these parameters. Conclusions: Currently available evidence is inadequate for identification of cephalometric parameters capable of reliably discriminating between poor and good responders to MAD treatment. To guide further research, methodological weaknesses of the currently available studies were highlighted and possible reasons for their discordant results were analyzed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.271-276
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• 2006

Objective : Despite the recent progress that has been made in intracerebral monitoring, it is still difficult to quantify the exact extent of primary brain damage after severe head injury. In this work, we investigate the role of S-100B protein as a serum marker of brain damage after severe head injury. Methods : 21 patients with severe head injury [GCS score <9] were selected for this prospective study. A venous blood sample was taken as soon as possible after head injury and the serum concentration of S-100B protein was measured daily for five consecutive days. The serum level of S-100B protein was compared with the patients' outcome. The outcome was measured twice, at hospital discharge and after 6 months of follow-up using the Glasgow Outcome Scale[GOS]. Results : Those patients who died within two weeks [after head injury] had a significantly higher serum S-100B value than those who survived [median, 9.64ug/L versus 2.91ug/L]. Seven [78%] of the nine patients who died had a maximum S-100B value of 2ug/L or higher, while three [25%] of the twelve surviving patients showed a maximum S-100B protein value of more than 2ug/L [P<005]. Conclusion : These results indicate that S-100B protein appears to be the most reliable index for estimating the extent of brain damage.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2005

Objective : Limited data are available concerning the outcome of the patients with atypical meningioma due to lack of the studies with large series. The authors review atypical meningioma retrospectively and analyzed various parameters concerning its outcome. Methods : Of the 866 meningioma patients treated between 1990 and 2003, pathologically proven 54 atypical meningiomas were reviewed. Various factors of the patients were analyzed, and surgical specimens were re-examined blindly by neuropathologist without any patient information. Extent of surgical resection was determined according to Simpson's classification by reviewing the chart and postoperative scan if possible. Results : Twenty-three [42.6%] had local recurrences during the follow-up, of which 13 [32.5%] of 40 complete excisions and 10 [71.4%] of 14 incomplete excisions. The median time to recurrence was 47 months, and the overall 3-, 5-, and 10-year local control rates were 62.4%, 41.5%, and 31.1%, respectively. Five [9.3%] died during follow-up period. The mean survival time was 123months, and the overall 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were 94.2%, 87.2%, and 78.5%, respectively. The extent of surgical excision was the most significant prognostic factor not for survival but for local control [p=0.2179 and 0.0005, respectively]. Extracranial metastasis was not seen in our cases. Conclusion : Complete surgical excision is the most important factor in improving local control. Careful long-term follow-up is mandatory because atypical meningioma shows a broad range of aggressiveness and natural history.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.529-537
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• 2019

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide and several molecular signatures have been developed to predict survival in lung cancer. Increasing evidence suggests that proliferation and migration to promote tumor growth are associated with dysregulated ion channel expression. In this study, by analyzing high-throughput gene expression data, we identify the differentially expressed $K^+$ channel genes in lung cancer. In total, we prioritize ten dysregulated $K^+$ channel genes (5 up-regulated and 5 down-regulated genes, which were designated as K-10) in lung tumor tissue compared with normal tissue. A risk scoring system combined with the K-10 signature accurately predicts clinical outcome in lung cancer, which is independent of standard clinical and pathological prognostic factors including patient age, lymph node involvement, tumor size, and tumor grade. We further indicate that the K-10 potentially predicts clinical outcome in breast and colon cancers. Molecular signature discovered through $K^+$ gene expression profiling may serve as a novel biomarker to assess the risk in lung cancer.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.652-664
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• 2022

The Kernohan-Woltman notch phenomenon (KWNP) refers to an intracranial lesion causing massive side-to-side mass effect which leads to compression of the contralateral cerebral peduncle against the free edge of the cerebellar tentorium. Diagnosis is based on "paradoxical" motor deficit ipsilateral to the lesion associated with radiologic evidence of damage to the contralateral cerebral peduncle. To date, there is scarce evidence regarding KWNP associated neuroimaging patterns and motor function prognostic factors. A systematic review was conducted on Medline database from inception to July 2021 looking for English-language articles concerning KWNP, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The research yielded 45 articles for a total of 51 patients. The mean age was 40.7 years-old and the male/female sex ratio was 2/1. 63% of the patients (32/51) suffered from head trauma with a majority of acute subdural hematomas (57%, 29/51). 57% (29/51) of the patients were in the coma upon admission and 47% (24/51) presented pupil anomalies. KWNP presented the neuroimaging features of compression ischemic stroke located in the contralateral cerebral peduncle, with edema in the surrounding structures and sometimes compression stroke of the cerebral arteries passing nearby. 45% of the patients (23/51) presented a good motor functional outcome; nevertheless, no predisposing factor was identified. A Glasgow coma scale (GCS) of more than 3 showed a trend (p=0.1065) toward a better motor functional outcome. The KWNP is a regional compression syndrome oftentimes caused by sudden and massive uncal herniation and leading to contralateral cerebral peduncle ischemia. Even though patients suffering from KWNP usually present a good overall recovery, patients with a GCS of 3 may present a worse motor functional outcome. In order to better understand this syndrome, future studies will have to focus on more personalized criteria such as individual variation of tentorial notch width.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.215-218
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• 2012

Objective: Traumatic epidural hematomas (EDHs) in children are a relatively unusual occurrence. The cause and outcome vary depending on period and reg ion of study. The aims of this analysis were to review the cause and outcome of pediatric EDHs nowadays and to discuss outcome-related variables in a large consecutive series of surgically treated EDH in children. Methods: This is a retrospective review of 29 patients with surgically treated EDHs between Jan 2000 and February 2010. Patients' medical records, computed tomographic (Cl) scans, and, if performed, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were reviewed to define variables associated with outcome. Variables included in the analysis were age, associated severe intracranial injury, abnormal pupillary response, hematoma thickness, severity of head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score), parenchymal brain injury, and diffuse axonal injury. Results: The mean (SO) age of the patients was 109 months (0-185 months). Most of the injuries with EDHs occurred in traffic accident (14 cases, 48.2%) and followed by slip down in 6 cases and falls in 6 cases. There were one birth injury and one unknown cause. EDHs in traffic accidents occurred in pedestrians hit by a motor vehicle, 9 cases; motorbike and car accidents, 5 cases and bicycle accidents, 1 case. The locations of hematoma were almost same in both sides (left side in 15 cases). Temporal lobe is the most common site of hematomas (13 cases, 44%). The mean size of the EDHs was 18 mm (range, 5-40 mm). Heterogeneous hematomas in CT scans were 20 cases (67%). Two patients were referred with unilateral or bilateral dilated pupil(s). There was enlargement of EDH in 5 patients (17%). All of them were heterogeneous hematomas in CT scans. Except for 4 patients, all EDHs were associated with skull fracture(s) (87%). There was no case of patient with major organ injury. CT or MRI revealed brain contusion in 5 patients, and diffuse axonal injury in one patient The mortality was zero, and the outcomes were excellent in 26 and good in 2 patients. None of the tested variables were found to have a prognostic relevance. Conclusion: Regardless of the EDH size, the clinical status of the patients, the abnormal pupillary findings, or the cause of injury, the outcome and prognosis of the patients with EDH were excellent.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.168-172
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• 2001

Objective : The authors have studied the clinical outcome of patients with diffuse axonal injuries(DAI) to evaluate the prognostic value of gradient-echo MR imaging findings. Materials and Methods : From March 1995 to March 1998, there were nineteen patients with DAI whose initial Glasgow coma scales were eight or less. Authors divided them into two groups according to Glasgow outcome scales ; those patients with GOS 3 or less(group A ; 9) and those with 4 or more(group B ; 10). We subdivided the lesions as superficial and deep lesion, and analyzed the numbers, anatomical loci of the lesions on the gradient echo images of each group. Results : Mean numbers of the lesions were 15 per case in group A(135/9) and 10 in group B(100/10). The common loci involved in DAI were cerebral cortex, brain stem, and corpus callosum. Cortical lesions were 31.1% in group A(42/135) and 47% in group B(47/100). Brain stem lesions were 25.9%(35/135) and 15%(15/100) each. Callosal lesions were 31.1%(26/135) and 13%(13/100) each. The frequency of callosal and brain stem lesions was significantly different between two groups(p<0.05). We divided callosal lesions as genu, body, and splenium and body lesions as anterior, middle, posterior, but no significant topographical difference of lesions was observed between two groups. Deep lesions were observed more frequently in group A(58.5%, 79/135) than group B(36%, 36/100). Conclusion : The poor outcome group showed more numbers of lesion and more frequent involvement of brain stem and corpus callosum than favorable outcome group. Gradient-echo MR imaging seems to have predictive value for clinical outcome in patients with DAI.