Complication Analysis in Korean Patients With Hemophilia A From 2007 to 2019: A Nationwide Study by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Database.

BACKGROUND: There has been remarkable progress in hemophilia A (HA) treatment in Korea. Viral inactivation products were developed in 1989, use of recombinant factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates started in 2002, and prophylaxis expanded thereafter. This study was conducted to identify the changes in complications in HA before and after 1989 or 2002. METHODS: The study was performed using the 2007-2019 Healthcare Big Data Hub of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. RESULTS: Among 2,557 patients, 1,084 had ≥ 1 complication; 829 had joint problems, 328 had viral infections, 146 had neurologic sequelae, and 87 underwent 113 surgeries or procedures due to complications. Patients born after 1989 had a significantly lower risk of viral infections than those born before 1989; 27.1% vs. 1.4% (P < 0.001, odds ratio [OR], 0.037). Patients born after 2002 had a significantly lower risk of joint problems than those born before 2002; 36.8% vs. 24.7% (P < 0.001, OR, 0.538). Patients born after 2002 had a higher incidence of neurologic sequelae than those born before 2002; 3.7% vs. 11.1% (P < 0.001, OR, 3.210). Medical expenses for complication-associated surgeries or procedures were ₩2,957,557,005. CONCLUSION: Viral infections have significantly decreased in Korean patients with HA. The degree of reduction of joint problems was lower than we expected, because it took > 10 years to expand prophylaxis widely. Neurologic sequelae have not decreased; thus, additional efforts to decrease intracranial hemorrhage are needed. We suggest personalized dosing of FVIII and more meticulous care during childbirth to further reduce the complications.

Does reverse shoulder arthroplasty improve emotional status and quality of life in patients with rotator cuff insufficiency? Prospective sequential follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate sequential changes of emotional status and quality of life after reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) for rotator cuff insufficiency and to determine the predictors that can affect postoperative clinical outcomes. This study was conducted to prove the hypothesis that RSA would improve emotional status and quality of life. METHODS: Fifty patients undergoing RSA for rotator cuff insufficiency were prospectively included. Evaluation using the visual analog scale pain score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, subjective shoulder value, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Abbreviated scale of World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) was performed before surgery and at 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: The mean visual analog scale pain score, HADS-depression score, and HADS-anxiety score showed a significant decrease from 6.6, 13.3, and 13.9 before surgery to 1.5, 3.9, and 3.7 after 12 months after surgery, respectively (all P < .001). The mean ASES score, WHOQOL-BREF score, and subjective shoulder value showed a significant improvement from 28.5, 32.3, and 23.6% to 81.3, 79.1, and 78.4%, respectively (all P < .001). All outcome measurements showed a significant improvement from 6 weeks after RSA. In multivariate analysis, age was an independent predictor of the final ASES score and WHOQOL-BREF score (P = .037 and .004, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study showed a sequential improvement of emotional status and quality of life as well as functional recovery with pain relief from 6 weeks after RSA in patients with rotator cuff insufficiency. Especially, younger patients had better postoperative functional ability and quality of life. These findings suggest that RSA for rotator cuff insufficiency provides a rapid improvement of emotional status and quality of life.

Comparative Efficacy of Rotator Interval Versus Posterior Capsule Approach Intraarticular Corticosteroid Injections for Primary Frozen Shoulder: A Single-blind, Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Intraarticular (IA) corticosteroid injection is commonly performed in patients with primary frozen shoulder (PFS). However, the best administration site remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of rotator interval (RI) vs posterior capsule (PC) approach for ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections into the glenohumeral joint of patients with PFS. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, exploratory, prospective study. SETTING: A single fellowship training institution in Daegu, Republic of Korea. METHODS: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (2019-04-047-001).  Ninety patients with PFS were randomly assigned to either RI approach (RI group, n = 43) or PC approach (PC group, n = 45) for ultrasound-guided IA corticosteroid injection. Fluoroscopic images to assess the accuracy of the injection were obtained immediately after injection by a shoulder specialist. Visual Analog Scale for pain, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, the subjective shoulder value, and range of motion (ROM) were used to assess clinical outcomes for all patients at the time of presentation, and at 3, 6, and 12 weeks after injection. RESULTS: The accuracy of injection was 76.7% (33/43) and 93.3% (42/45) in the RI and PC groups, respectively; the between-group difference was statistically significant (P = .028). Significant improvements were observed in both groups in terms of all clinical scores and ROMs throughout follow-up until 12 weeks after the injection (all P < .001). At 12 weeks, better improvements in forward flexion and abduction (P = .049 and .044) were observed in the RI group than in the PC group. No adverse effect related to injection was observed in either group. LIMITATIONS: This study had no control group receiving placebo injections and limited follow-up time. CONCLUSIONS: Both groups showed significant pain reduction and functional improvement until 12 weeks after injection. Although no significant differences were observed in pain and functional scores between the 2 groups, the RI group showed better improvement of ROM than the PC group. These results indicate that the RI and anterior structures are a major site in the pathogenesis and treatment target of PFS.

Association of PTTG1 expression with invasiveness of non-functioning pituitary adenomas.

BACKGROUND: Pituitary tumor transforming gene 1 (PTTG1), paired-like homeodomain 2 (PITX2), and galectin-3 have been widely studied as predictive biomarkers for various tumors and are involved in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. We evaluated the usefulness of PTTG1, PITX2, and galectin-3 as predictive biomarkers for invasive non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) by determining the relationship between the expressions of these three proteins and the invasiveness of the NFPAs. We also investigated whether PTTG1, E-cadherin, and Ki-67, which are known to be related to each other, show a correlation with NFPA features. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 87 patients with NPFAs who underwent surgical removal. The NFPAs were classified into three groups based on magnetic resonance imaging findings of suprasellar extension and cavernous sinus invasion. Immunohistochemical staining for PTTG1, PITX2, galectin-3, E-cadherin, and Ki-67 was performed on tissue microarrays. RESULTS: PTTG1 expression showed a statistically significant correlation with the invasiveness of NFPAs, whereas PITX2 and galectin-3 did not have a relationship with the invasiveness of NFPAs. Moreover, there was no association among PTTG1, E-cadherin, and Ki-67 expression. CONCLUSIONS: PTTG1 has the potential to serve as a predictive biomarker for invasive NFPA. Furthermore, this study may serve as a reference for the development of PTTG1-targeted therapeutic agents.

Polo-like kinase 4 as a potential predictive biomarker of chemoradioresistance in locally advanced rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) is a serine/threonine protein kinase located in the centriole of the chromosome during the cell cycle. PLK4 overexpression has been described in a variety of many common human epithelial tumors. Conversely, PLK4 acts as a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor in some situations, highlighting the importance of strict regulation of PLK4 expression, activity, and function. Meanwhile, the importance of chemoradiation resistance in rectal cancer is being emphasized more than ever. We aimed to analyze PLK4 expression and the tumor regression grade (TRG) in patients with rectal cancer, treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 102 patients with rectal cancer who received preoperative CRT. Immunohistochemistry for PLK4 in paraffin-embedded tissue was performed from the biopsy and surgical specimens. RESULTS: We found significant association between high expression of PLK4 and poor response to neoadjuvant CRT (according to both Mandard and The Korean Society of Pathologists TRG systems) in the pre-CRT specimens. Other clinicopathologic parameters did not reveal any correlation with PLK4 expression. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed an association between high expression of PLK4 in the pre-CRT specimens and TRG. Our results indicated that PLK4 could potentially be a new predictor for CRT effect in patients with rectal cancer.

Negative pressure wound therapy for cervical esophageal perforation with abscess.

Perforation of the cervical esophagus is a rare but life-threatening condition. Cervical esophageal perforation with abscess formation can be usually treated with conservative treatments of simple drainage and antibiotics. Aggressive surgical treatments are considered if conservative treatments fail. But the aggressive treatments have low success rate and high morbidity in cervical esophageal perforation. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) was widely used in various complicated wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, open abdomen, pressure ulcers, open fractures, sterna wounds, grafts, and flaps since it had been introduced in 1997. NPWT is known to be a valuable tool in the management of various complicated wounds. In this report, we described a case of intractable cervical esophageal perforation with abscess, which was successfully treated with NPWT after the failure of conservative management.

[Conquering process of the group-bullies among teenagers].

PURPOSE: This study was to develop a substantive theory on the conquering experience of group-bullies among teenagers, and thereafter suggest a model for solving the problems. METHOD: Data collection and analysis was proceeded by a method of Grounded Theory. Data was collected by interviewing the participants. Five teenagers participated in this study who had already overcome the situation. RESULT: In the analysis 31 concepts, 6 categories, and 14 subcategories are extracted from the raw data, and all are constituted on the paradigm model. The causal condition is a painstaking of participants. The context is affirmative reconsidering and the phenomenon is conquering difficulties. The intervening condition is a positive intervention of a supporting system and the strategy for action/interaction is building a relationship. The consequences of this analysis is harmonizing. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest adequate ways of conquering group-bullies. These are positive attitudes towards solving problems and the full use of support systems surrounding them.