Revised Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Korean Pancreatobiliary Association for Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis can range from a mild, self-limiting disease requiring no more than supportive care, to severe disease with life-threatening complications. With the goal of providing a recommendation framework for clinicians to manage acute pancreatitis, and to contribute to improvements in national health care, the Korean Pancreatobiliary Association (KPBA) established the Korean guidelines for acute pancreatitis management in 2013. However, many challenging issues exist which often lead to differences in clinical practices. In addition, with newly obtained evidence regarding acute pancreatitis, there have been great changes in recent knowledge and information regarding this disorder. Therefore, the KPBA committee underwent an extensive revision of the guidelines. The revised guidelines were developed using the Delphi method, and the main topics of the guidelines include the following: diagnosis, severity assessment, initial treatment, nutritional support, convalescent treatment, and the treatment of local complications and necrotizing pancreatitis. Specific recommendations are presented, along with the evidence levels and recommendation grades.

Sarcopenia in Chronic Liver Disease / 대한소화기학회지

Sarcopenia is a crucial factor in assessing the nutritional status of chronic liver disease patients and predicting their prognosis and survival. The serum ammonia level is closely associated with sarcopenia regarding ammonia, a key regulator in the liver-muscle axis.In addition, various changes in energy metabolism and hormones are also involved in sarcopenia. The psoas muscle area can represent the overall skeletal muscle mass in liver disease patients. Therefore, measuring the psoas muscle area with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is considered an objective and reliable method for assessing muscle mass. Providing sufficient calorie and protein intake is crucial for preventing and treating sarcopenia. In addition, engaging in appropriate exercise and addressing concurrent hormonal and metabolic changes can be helpful.

Improvement of Severe Colon Stricture after Rituximab Therapy for Concomitant Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis / 대한소화기학회지

Colorectal strictures are uncommon in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). An extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is rarely involved in the colon but may be associated with inflammatory bowel diseases. A 41-year-old female with a six-year history of UC presented with a severe stricture of the sigmoid colon that prevented the passage of a colonoscope. A histological examination revealed non-specific inflammation and fibrosis without dysplasia or cancer.Despite conventional treatment, including mesalazine and azathioprine for one year after that visit, the stricture persisted. In addition, diffuse, edematous exudative inflammation and multiple shallow ulcers were observed in the distal rectum, revealing a MALT lymphoma testing positive for CD20, CD43, CD5, and Bcl-2, but negative for CD3, CD10, CD23, and cyclin-D1. Four weekly doses of rituximab were administered. Follow-up colonoscopy performed one month after treatment revealed slight improvement in the rectal lesion without remnant histological evidence of a MALT lymphoma. In addition, the stricture showed marked improvement, and the colonoscope could pass easily through the stricture site. This is the first case report on an improvement of a severe sigmoid colon stricture in a patient with UC after rituximab treatment for a concomitant rectal MALT lymphoma.

Clinical significance of C-reactive protein-to-prealbumin ratio in predicting early recurrence in resectable pancreatic cancer

Purpose@#Resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a high risk of recurrence after curative resection; despite this, the preoperative risk factors for predicting early recurrence remain unclear. This study therefore aimed to identify preoperative inflammation and nutrition factors associated with early recurrence of resectable PDAC. @*Methods@#From March 2021 to November 2021, a total of 20 patients who underwent curative resection for PDAC were enrolled in this study. We evaluated the risk factors for early recurrence within 1 year by univariate and multivariate analyses using Cox hazard proportional regression. The cutoff values for predicting recurrence were examined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. @*Results@#In our univariate and multivariate analyses, C-reactive protein (CRP), CRP-albumin ratio, and CRP-prealbumin ratio, as well as sex and age, were significant independent prognostic factors for early recurrence in PDAC. However, known inflammatory factors (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios), nutritional factors (albumin, prealbumin, ferritin, vitamin D), and inflammatory-nutritional factors (Glasgow Prognostic Score, modified Glasgow Prognostic Score, albumin-bilirubin) showed no association with early recurrence. In addition, using cutoff values by ROC curve analysis, a high preoperative CRP level of >5 mg/L, as well as high CRP-to-albumin (>5.3) and CRP-to-prealbumin (>1.3) ratios showed no prognostic value. @*Conclusion@#Our results showed that inflammatory and perioperative nutritional factors, especially CRP-to-prealbumin ratio, have significant associations with early recurrence after curative resection in resectable PDAC. Therefore, for such patients, a cautious approach is needed when inflammation and poor nutritional status are present.

Clinical impact of serum prealbumin in pancreaticobiliary disease

Purpose@#Although there are many studies on prealbumin in individual diseases such as malignant or inflammatory diseases, there are few comparative studies. This study aimed to compare the clinical differences between prealbumin levels in cholecystitis and pancreaticobiliary malignancies and investigate the clinical impact of low prealbumin levels in pancreaticobiliary malignancies. @*Methods@#From June 2021 to September 2021, 61 patients who had undergone surgery for various pancreaticobiliary diseases were enrolled in this study, and their clinicopathological data were retrospectively analyzed. @*Results@#Many elderly patients with malignant diseases had poor American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scores, significantly lower albumin and prealbumin levels, and higher systemic immune inflammation indices. The low prealbumin group was older; had poorer ASA scores; and had significantly lower body mass index and hemoglobin and albumin levels and higher systemic immune inflammation indices than the normal prealbumin group. In malignant diseases, the low prealbumin group had significantly lower body mass index and hemoglobin levels and a tendency toward more advanced disease (lymph node and distant metastasis). @*Conclusion@#Preoperative low prealbumin levels had an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.69, suggesting that it may be useful for predicting pancreaticobiliary malignancies. Prealbumin levels were lower in malignant diseases, possibly related to poor nutritional status and systemic immune inflammation. Low prealbumin levels may predict the risk of more advanced disease.

Revised Clinical Practice Guideline of Korean Pancreatobiliary Association for Acute Pancreatitis: Treatment of Local Complication and Necrotizing Pancreatitis / 대한췌담도학회지

In severe acute pancreatitis, accompanied by local complications such as acute peripancreatic fluid collection, pancreatic pseudocyst, acute necrotic collection and walled-off necrosis, the mortality rate is as high as 12-25%. In many cases, interventional procedure or surgical treatment are required at an appropriate time. Conservative treatment is considered for acute peripancreatic fluid collection. Endoscopic drainage could be considered preferentially for the treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts with clinical symptoms or complications. In the case of necrotizing pancreatitis, conservative treatment is preferred, but therapeutic intervention should be considered if infectious pancreatic necrosis with clinical deterioration is suspected. For therapeutic intervention, it is recommended to proceed with a step-up approach in which drainage is first performed and, if necessary, necrosectomy is performed. The optimal timing of intervention is considered 4 weeks after the onset of pancreatitis when necrosis become walled-off, but early drainage within 4 weeks can be considered depending on the patient's condition. This guideline provides an overview of current treatment strategies for local complications of acute pancreatitis.

Risk Factors and Patterns of Locoregional Recurrence after Radical Nephrectomy for Locally Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#We aimed to investigate the risk factors and patterns of locoregional recurrence (LRR) after radical nephrectomy (RN) in patients with locally advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). @*Materials and Methods@#We retrospectively analyzed 245 patients who underwent RN for non-metastatic pT3-4 RCC from January 2006 to January 2016. We analyzed the risk factors associated with poor locoregional control using Cox regression. Anatomical mapping was performed on reference computed tomography scans showing intact kidneys. @*Results@#The median follow-up duration was 56 months (range, 1 to 128 months). Tumor extension to renal vessels or the inferior vena cava (IVC) and Fuhrman’s nuclear grade IV were identified as independent risk factors of LRR. The 5-year actuarial LRR rates in groups with no risk factor, one risk factor, and two risk factors were 2.3%, 19.8%, and 30.8%, respectively (p < 0.001). The locations of LRR were distributed as follows: aortocaval area (n=2), paraaortic area (n=4), retrocaval area (n=5), and tumor bed (n=11). No LRR was observed above the celiac axis (CA) or under the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). @*Conclusion@#Tumor extension to renal vessels or the IVC and Fuhrman’s nuclear grade IV were the independent risk factors associated with LRR after RN for pT3-4 RCC. The locations of LRR after RN for RCC were distributed in the tumor bed and regional lymphatic area from the bifurcation of the CA to that of the IMA.

Clinical Utility of Combining Prostate Health Index and PI-RADS Version 2 to Improve Detection of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer

Purpose@#To evaluate the performance of combining prostate health index (PHI) and Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI-RADSv2) for detection of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). @*Materials and Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent prostate biopsy for elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≥2.5 ng/mL and/or abnormal digital rectal examination. Serum markers for PSA, free PSA (fPSA), and [-2] proPSA (p2PSA) were measured, and PHI was calculated as ([p2PSA/fPSA]×[PSA]1/2). Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging was performed using a 3.0T scanner and scored using PI-RADSv2. csPCa was defined as either grade group (GG) ≥2 disease or GG1 cancer detected in >2 cores or >50% of positive on biopsy. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression modelling, along with receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to predict the probability of csPCa. @*Results@#Of the total 358 patients, 159 (44.4%) were diagnosed with csPCa. On univariable analysis, age, PSA density (PSAD), PHI and PI-RADSv2 were associated with csPCa. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of baseline model incorporating age and PSAD was 0.663. The AUC of combining PHI and PI-RADSv2 to baseline model was higher than that of PHI alone to baseline model (0.884 vs. 0.807, p<0.0001) and PI-RADSv2 alone to baseline model (0.884 vs. 0.846, p=0.0002), respectively. If biopsy was restricted to patients with PI-RADS 5 as well as PI-RADS 3 or 4 and PHI ≥27, 36.0% of unnecessary biopsy could be avoided at the cost of missing 4.7% of csPCa. @*Conclusions@#The combination of PHI and PI-RADSv2 to baseline model incorporating age and PSAD had higher accuracy for detection of csPCa compared with PHI or PI-RADSv2 alone.

Diagnostic Value of Anti-Nuclear Antibodies: Results From Korean University-Affiliated Hospitals

Background@#Unnecessary and inappropriate laboratory testing accounts for a significant portion of waste in health care utilization. The aim of this study was to examine the diagnostic value of the anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test by examining the rate of ANA associated rheumatic disease (AARD) diagnosis among ANA tested and ANA positive subjects and positive predictive value (PPV) of ANA test leading to AARD diagnosis in different ANA titers and different subsets of patients in 5 hospitals affiliated with a university. @*Methods@#We retrospectively extracted data from all subjects who were tested for ANA from year 2010 to 2019. Those who were first evaluated at or referred to rheumatology were further evaluated with extraction of data including ANA titer and ultimate diagnosis. PPVs for ANA test were evaluated after stratification according to clinically relevant key parameters, such as patient age (younger < 65 years vs. older), sex, and requesting department. @*Results@#From 2010 to 2019, A total of 94,153 patients were tested for ANA, of which 13,600 (14.4% of the total) were positive. AARD was diagnosed in only 0.69% among all ANA tested patients and 4.74% among ANA positive patients. The AARD diagnosis rate of ANA positive patients varied widely from 0.1% to 8.7% by requesting department. Using cutoff values above 1:320 yielded PPVs of 15.6 and 7.8% for all AARs and systemic lupus erythematosus.The PPV was significantly higher in young age (< 65 years) and in women, and when it was requested from internal medicine vs other departments. @*Conclusion@#AARD was diagnosed in less than 1% of all ANA tested patients in universityaffiliated hospitals. This result shows that careful consideration before ordering the screening ANA is needed to improve the utility of the test for providers and patients and to reduce health costs spurred by unnecessary testing and its consequences.

Relationship between high bile juice amylase levels and chronic bacterial infections in patients with gallbladder cancer

Purpose@#Pancreatic enzyme reflux into the biliary tract is associated with chronic inflammation and increased cellular proliferation in the biliary epithelium, leading to biliary carcinoma. We evaluated the relationship between high bile juice amylase levels and biliary microflora in patients with malignant gallbladder lesions. @*Methods@#In this retrospective study, 25 gallbladder specimens were obtained from patients with gallbladder cancer to evaluate amylase levels and perform bacterial culture. The samples were divided into high and low amylase groups and culture-positive and negative groups for analysis. Bile juice amylase 3 times higher than the normal serum amylase level (36–128 IU/L) was considered high. @*Results@#The number of positive cultures was higher in the high amylase group than in the low amylase group, but the difference was insignificant. There were no differences in other clinicopathological factors. Sixteen patients showed positive culture results; Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. were the most common gram-negative bacteria, whereas Enterococcus and Streptococcus spp. were the most common gram-positive bacteria. Age and bile juice amylase levels were significantly higher in the culture-positive group than in the culture-negative group. The incidence of bacterial resistance to cephalosporins was 6.25%–35.29%, and this incidence was particularly high for lower-generation cephalosporins. @*Conclusion@#Bacteria in gallbladder were identified more frequently when the amylase level was high. High amylase levels in the gallbladder can be associated with caused chronic bacterial infections with occult pancreaticobiliary reflux, potentially triggering gallbladder cancer

Short-term outcome of bariatric surgery on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a Korean perspective

Purpose@#Obesity is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease.We aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of bariatric surgery for hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in Korean patients. @*Methods@#A total of 32 consecutive patients were enrolled in this study. Hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis were assessed before surgery and 6 months after surgery using transient elastography and serologic panels. @*Results@#Thirteen patients (40.6%) were male and 19 (59.4%) were female, with a mean age of 39.3 ± 11.3 years. The body mass index was significant at the 6th month: 39.1 ± 6.7 and 30.3 ± 4.7 kg/m2 (P < 0.001), respectively. The mean preoperative controlled attenuation parameter and liver stiffness measurement values were 325.4 ± 55.9 dB/m and 7.4 ± 4.8 kPa, respectively, before surgery, and they decreased to 267.1 ± 45.1 dB/m and 5.3 ± 2.3 kPa, respectively, 6 months postoperatively (P < 0.001, respectively). @*Conclusion@#These results suggest that bariatric surgery is associated with a significant improvement in liver steatosis and fibrosis. Bariatric surgery has a beneficial effect on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with morbid obesity in Korea.

Eradication Rate Using a First-line Triple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Infection in Yeongdong, Gangwon Province, Korea

Background/Aims@#The eradication success rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection with a first-line standard triple therapy (STT) has been decreasing in Korea. However, treatment outcomes of H. pylori infection in Yeongdong, Gangwon Province have been scarcely reported. This study aimed to investigate the treatment outcomes of H. pylori infection in a single tertiary care hospital with regional characteristics. @*Materials and Methods@#From July 2018 to June 2019, a total of 592 patients who underwent STT consisting of a proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin for 7 to 14 days as a first-line H. pylori eradication therapy were included. Demographic data and treatment outcomes were retrospectively reviewed using medical records. @*Results@#The median age of 592 patients was 58 years (range 23 to 86) and 329 patients (55.6%) were men. The indication for eradication therapy included chronic atrophic gastritis (57.9%), peptic ulcer disease (19.6%), and gastric neoplasm after endoscopic resection (5.9%). Most patients (92.2%) received a 7-day course of STT. Eradication rate of STT was 64.0% (379/592). Rescue therapy was performed in 146 patients, and the final eradication rate reached 85.6% (507/592). @*Conclusions@#Eradication rate of STT in Yeongdong area of Gangwon Province was unsatisfactory, warranting the consideration of a first-line eradication regimen other than STT.

A prospective study of the correlation between hepatic fibrosis and noninvasively measured fibrosis markers including serum M2BPGi and acoustic radiation force impulse elastography / 고신대학교의과대학학술지

Background@#Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) was introduced as a noninvasively measurable serologic marker for liver fibrosis. Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) elastography is another noninvasive method of measuring hepatic fibrosis. There are limited data about the correlations between histologic fibrosis grade and noninvasively measured markers, including M2BPGi and ARFI. @*Methods@#This prospective study was conducted among patients admitted consecutively for liver resection, cholecystectomy, or liver biopsy. ARFI elastography, serum M2BPGi levels, and the AST to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) score were evaluated before histologic evaluation. Histologic interpretation was performed by a single pathologist using the METAVIR scoring system. @*Results@#In patients with high METAVIR scores, M2BPGi levels and ARFI values showed statistically significant differences between patients with fibrosis and those without fibrosis. In 41 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, as METAVIR scores increased, M2BPGi levels also tended to increase (p=0.161). ARFI values changed significantly as METAVIR scores increased (p=0.039). In 33 patients without hepatocellular carcinoma, as METAVIR scores increased, M2BPGi levels significantly increased (p=0.040). ARFI values also changed significantly as METAVIR scores increased (p=0.033). M2BPGi levels were significantly correlated with ARFI values (r=0.604, p<0.001), and APRI values (r=0.704, p<0.001), respectively. @*Conclusions@#Serum M2BPGi levels increased with liver fibrosis severity and could be a good marker for diagnosing advanced hepatic fibrosis regardless of the cause of liver disease.

Use of a Cutting Balloon Dilation as a Rescue Therapy in Patients with Benign Bilioenteric Anastomotic Strictures Refractory to Conventional Balloon Dilation / 대한췌담도학회지

Percutaneous balloon dilation with or without placement of an external biliary drain is a nonoperative alternative method for treating benign bilioenteric anastomotic strictures. Although this procedure has a high technical success rate, outcomes are less optimal when attempting to dilate refractory tight strictures. For the stricture, cutting balloon can be an option. We present four patients with benign bilioenteric anastomotic strictures refractory to conventional balloon dilation. To the patients, a peripheral cutting balloon over-the-wire system was inflated, following subsequent conventional non-compliant balloon dilation. After the balloon dilation treatment, an external drainage catheter was placed through the stricture site and maintained for up to 30 days. Technical and end-treatment success was achieved in all four patients. In conclusion, the use of cutting balloon dilation may appear to be a safe and effective alternative method of treatment in patients with benign bilioenteric anastomotic strictures refractory to conventional balloon dilation.

Effects of Complete Bladder Cuff Removal on Oncological Outcomes Following Radical Nephroureterectomy for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#This study aimed to evaluate the effects of bladder cuff method on oncological outcomes in patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma. @*Materials and Methods@#The records of 1,095 patients treated with RNU performed at our hospital between 1994 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed; 856 patients with no bladder tumor history were enrolled in the present study. The management of bladder cuff was divided into two categories: extravesical ligation (EL) or transvesical resection (TR). Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analyses were performed to determine which factors were associated with intravesical recurrence (IVR)–free survival (IVRFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). @*Results@#The mean patient age was 64.8 years and the median follow-up was 37.7 months. Among the 865 patients, 477 (55.7%) underwent the TR and 379 (44.3%) the EL. Significantly higher IVRFS (p=0.001) and OS (p=0.013) were observed in the TR group. In multivariable analysis, IVR, CSS, and OS were independently associated with the EL. Among 379 patients treated with the EL, eight underwent remnant ureterectomy. Based on radical cystectomy–free survival, significant difference was not observed between the two groups. However, significantly higher IVRFS was observed in the TR group when the tumor was located in the renal pelvis. @*Conclusion@#Intramural complete excision of the distal ureter during RNU should be the gold standard approach compared with EL for the management of distal ureter in terms of oncological outcomes.

Predictive Factors for Acute Urinary Retention After Transperineal Template-Guided Mapping Biopsy

Purpose@#We investigated the predictive factors for acute urinary retention (AUR) after transperineal template-guided mapping biopsy (TTMB). @*Materials and Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the records of 459 patients who had undergone TTMB between May 2017 and July 2020. Overall complications after TTMB were analyzed and categorized according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Factors that were likely to affect AUR were analyzed using a logistic regression model. @*Results@#Overall complications after TTMB were observed in 95 of the 459 patients (20.7%), of which AUR was the most commonly reported (17.4%, n=80), followed by hematuria (3.1%, n=14). Hematuria in one patient was categorized as Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa. All remaining complications were Clavien-Dindo grade I. In the multivariate regression model, age ≥65 (odds ratio, 2.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42–4.17; p=0.001), prostate volume ≥30 mL (odds ratio, 3.72; 95% CI, 1.19–11.62; p<0.02), and number of biopsy cores ≥30 (odds ratio, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.29–6.43; p=0.01) were identified as the predictors for AUR after TTMB. @*Conclusions@#AUR is the most common complication after TTMB. Age ≥65 years, prostate volume ≥30 mL, and number of biopsy cores ≥30 were significant predictors of AUR following TTMB.

Perioperative and Oncological Outcomes of 1,002 Consecutive Patients With Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated by Robotic Partial Nephrectomy at a Single Center

Purpose@#To analyze and compare the results of robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) at a single center with the previous large-scale studies in terms of perioperative and oncological outcomes. @*Materials and Methods@#We retrospectively evaluated 1,013 cases of RPN in our center database from December 2008 to August 2018. Total 11 cases were excluded in final analysis. We evaluated perioperative outcomes as the Trifecta achievement, which is defined as no positive surgical margin (PSM), no perioperative complications greater than Clavien-Dindo classification I and a warm ischemia time of <25 minutes. In addition, we analyzed pathological and oncological outcomes; recurrence, metastasis, all-cause deaths, cancer-specific deaths, and 5-year survival rates. @*Results@#In 1,002 cases, the Trifecta achievement was 61.1% (n=612). The postoperative complication was 18.4% (n=184) but most were grade 2 or less (14.9%, n=145). Ninety-three cases (9.28%) had benign and 907 cases (90.5%) had malignant pathologies. A local recurrence were 14 cases (1.54%) and distant metastasis were 20 cases (2.2%) during follow-up periods. Allcause death rate was 1.2% (n=11) and cancer-specific death rate was 0.2% (n=2). The median follow-up period was 39 months. A 5-year recurrence-free survival rate, cancer-specific survival rate, and overall survival rate were 95.2%, 99.7%, and 98.4%. @*Conclusions@#In summary, our data shows comparable perioperative outcomes to other largescale studies of RPN in terms of the Trifecta achievement with similar baseline characteristics. In terms of oncological outcomes, there was lower rate of PSM and similar recurrence free survival rate.

Clinicopathological Features of Patients Diagnosed with Both Primary Thyroid Cancer and Primary Renal Cell Cancer and Its Comparison with Patients with Thyroid Cancer or Renal Cell Cancer Alone

Background and Objectives@#Thyroid cancer (TC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) display more frequent co-occurrence than would be expected by chance. We investigated clinicopathological features of patients with both primary TC and primary RCC (TC/RCC) group to facilitate a greater understanding of the relationship between two cancers. @*Materials and Methods@#A total of 53 patients who diagnosed with TC/RCC were enrolled. 13,663 TC-alone and 3279 RCC-alone patients who had undergone surgery at Samsung Medical Center between 1994 and 2014 were included as control groups. The clinicopathological characteristics of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. @*Results@#The median age at the time of TC or RCC diagnosis was 54 years in TC/RCC group and the RCC-alone group, while the patients in TC-alone group were significantly younger (47 years). The TC/RCC group showed a nearly equal sex prevalence (49% male), significantly different than the results of the TC-alone group (80% female) and RCC-alone group (71% male). A higher grade of pathologic stage (56.6% in stage 3) and greater number of patients with multifocality of thyroid tumors (45 vs. 32%), and more family history of cancer (32 vs. 0.4%) were revealed in TC/RCC group than in TC-alone group. In addition, 15.1% of patients in TC/RCC group presented with additional primary cancers such as prostate, colon, stomach, breast, and lung cancers. Conclusion: Patients in the TC/RCC group have a high rate of cancer family history, multifocality of thyroid tumors, and additional cancers. To understand this unique subset group, additional studies for environmental and genetic factors would be helpful for earlier diagnosis of combined cancers.

Association of body composition with disease activity and disability in rheumatoid arthritis

Background/Aims@#To explore the associations between body composition and pain, disease activity, and disability in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). @*Methods@#The study enrolled 335 patients with RA and underwent body composition measurement with an InBody analyzer. The associations of body mass index (BMI), body fat mass, and skeletal muscle mass with disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28), an index derived to measure the subjective component of DAS28 (DAS28-P), a pain visual analogue scale (VAS), and disability measured with the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) were explored. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 @*Results@#The median (interquartile range) disease duration was 6 years (3.5 to 9) and the mean DAS28 score was 3.6 ± 1.1. The mean BMI was 23.6 ± 3.6 kg/m2 and 109 patients (32.5%) were obese. Compared with non-obese patients, obese patients had a higher C-reactive protein (1.68 mg/dL vs. < 0.1 mg/dL, p = 0.013), higher pain VAS score (40 vs. 35, p = 0.031), and higher DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate score (3.75 ± 1.18 vs. 3.46 ± 1.11, p = 0.031). In multivariate regression analysis, the DAS28 score in females was positively associated with the current steroid dose, body fat mass, and HAQ score, while the HAQ score in females was associated with older age, DAS28, lower skeletal muscle mass, and higher body fat/skeletal muscle ratio. In the multivariate regression analysis, the DAS28-P score in females was positively associated with body fat/skeletal muscle ratio and HAQ. @*Conclusions@#Body composition, such as the body fat mass and body fat/skeletal muscle ratio, is significantly associated with disease activity and disability in female RA patients.

Effectiveness of Albumin-bilirubin Score as a Predictor of Post-hepatectomy Liver Failure in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma / 대한소화기학회지

Background/Aims@#Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is a major concern for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have undergone liver resection. The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score is a novel model for assessing liver function. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the ALBI score as a predictor of PHLF in HCC patients who have undergone hepatectomy in South Korea. @*Methods@#Between January 2014 and November 2018, HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy and indocyanine retention rate at 15 min (ICG-R15) test were enrolled in this study. @*Results@#A total of 101 patients diagnosed with HCC underwent hepatectomy. Thirty-two patients (31.7%) experienced PHLF. The ALBI score (OR 2.83; 95% CI 1.22-6.55; p=0.015), ICG-R15 (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.02-1.12; p=0.007) and ALBI grade (OR 2,86; 95% CI 1.08-7.58; p=0.035) were identified as independent predictors of PHLF by multivariable analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the ALBI score and ICG-R15 were 0.676 (95% CI 0.566-0.785) and 0.632 (95% CI 0.513-0.752), respectively. The optimal cutoff value of the ALBI score in predicting PHLF was -2.62, with a sensitivity of 75.0% and a specificity of 56.5%. @*Conclusions@#The ALBI score is an effective predictor of PHLF in patients with HCC, and its predictive ability is comparable to that of ICG-R15.