Background/Aims: We evaluated the feasibility and long-term efficacy of the combination of cytarabine, idarubicin, and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for treating patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Methods: We included 87 patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia and a t(15;17) or promyelocytic leukemia/retinoic acid receptor alpha (PML-RARα) mutation. Patients received 12 mg/m2/day idarubicin intravenously for 3 days and 100 mg/m2/day cytarabine for 7 days, plus 45 mg/m2/day ATRA. Clinical outcomes included complete remission (CR), relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and the secondary malignancy incidence during a 20-year follow-up. Results: The CR, 10-year RFS, and 10-year OS rates were 89.7%, 94.1%, and 73.8%, respectively, for all patients. The 10-year OS rate was 100% for patients that achieved CR. Subjects were classified according to the white blood cell (WBC) count in peripheral blood at diagnosis (low-risk, WBC < 10,000/mm3; high-risk, WBC ≥ 10,000/mm3). The low-risk group had significantly higher RFS and OS rates than the high-risk group, but the outcomes were not superior to the current standard treatment (arsenic trioxide plus ATRA). Toxicities were similar to those observed with anthracycline plus ATRA, and higher than those observed with arsenic trioxide plus ATRA. The secondary malignancy incidence after APL treatment was 2.7%, among the 75 patients that achieved CR, and 5.0% among the 40 patients that survived more than 5 years after the APL diagnosis. Conclusions Adding cytarabine to anthracycline plus ATRA was not inferior to anthracycline plus ATRA alone, but it was not comparable to arsenic trioxide plus ATRA. The probability of secondary malignancy was low.

BACKGROUND: Although intraoperative opioids provide more comfortable anesthesia and reduce the use of postoperative analgesics, it may cause opioid induced hyperalgesia (OIH). OIH is an increased pain response to opioids and it may be associated with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. This study aimed to determine whether intraoperative nefopam or ketamine, known being related on NMDA receptor, affects postoperative pain and OIH after continuous infusion of intraoperative remifentanil. METHODS: Fifty-four patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into three groups. In the nefopam group (N group), patients received nefopam 0.3 mg/kg at the induction of anesthesia followed by a continuous infusion of 0.065 mg/kg/h. In the ketamine group (K group), patients received ketamine 0.3 mg/kg at the induction of anesthesia followed by a continuous infusion of 3 µg/kg/min. The control group did not received any other agents except for the standard anesthetic regimen. Postoperative pain score, first time and number of demanding rescue analgesia, OIH and degrees of drowsiness/sedation scale were examined. RESULTS: Co-administrated nefopam or ketamine significantly reduced the total amount of intraoperative remifentanil and postoperative supplemental morphine. Nefopam group showed superior property over control and ketamine group in the postoperative VAS score and recovery index (alertness and respiratory drive), respectively. Nefopam group showed lower morphine consumption than ketamine group, but not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Both nefopam and ketamine infusion may be useful in managing in postoperative pain control under concomitant infusion of remifentanil. However, nefopam may be preferred to ketamine in terms of sedation.
Analgesia ; Analgesics ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Ketamine* ; Morphine ; N-Methylaspartate ; Nefopam* ; Pain, Postoperative*

BACKGROUND: The number of CD34+ cells in a peripheral blood stem cell collection is the key factor in predicting successful treatment of hematologic malignancies. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is the most popular medicinal herb in Korea. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of KRG on hematopoietic colony formation. METHODS: Bone marrow (BM) samples were obtained from 8 human donors after acquiring informed consent. BM mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated, and CD34+ cells were sorted using magnetic beads. The sorted CD34+ cells were incubated with or without total extract of KRG (50 microg/mL, 100 microg/mL) or Ginsenoside Rg1 (100 microg/mL), and the hematopoietic colony assay was performed using methylcellulose semisolid medium. The CD34+ cell counts were measured by a single platform assay using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The numbers of human BM-MNCs and CD34+ cells obtained after purification were variable among donors (5.6x10(7) and 1.3-48x10(7) and 8.9x10(4) and 1.8-80x10(4), respectively). The cells expanded 1,944 times after incubation for 12 d. Total extract of KRG added to the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-specific medium increased CD34+ cell counts 3.6 times compared to 2.6 times when using HSC medium alone. Total numbers of hematopoietic colonies in KRG medium were more than those observed in conventional medium, especially that of erythroid colonies such as burst forming unit-erythroid. CONCLUSION: Total extract of KRG facilitated CD34+ cell expansion and hematopoietic colony formation, especially of the erythroid lineage.
Antigens, CD34 ; Bone Marrow* ; Cell Count ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Korea ; Medicine, Korean Traditional ; Methylcellulose ; Panax* ; Plants, Medicinal ; Stem Cells ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke occurring during sleep is still an unexplored area of cerebrovascular event. As the exact onset time of stroke while sleeping (SWS) cannot be determined, these patients are generally excluded from the thrombolytic therapy of acute ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to know whether differences in clinical features exist between patients suffering a SWS and those with stroke while awake (SWA). METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of acute ischemic stroke patients consecutively registered in Hallym Stroke Databank between January 1999 and June 2007. We compared the risk factors and clinical features between the SWS and SWA groups. RESULTS: A total of 2,962 patients were included in the study, of which 821 (27.7%) were SWS. No differences between SWS and SWA were identified with regard to baseline clinical characteristics and risk factors except a history of smoking. In stroke subtype, small vessel occlusions were more frequently in SWS group than SWA group. Intravenous rt-PA treatments were performed frequently in the SWA group. Clinical outcomes at discharge were better in SWA group than SWS group. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that no major differences were exist in clinical characteristics between SWS and SWA patients, except the history of smoking. Clinical outcomes of patients with ischemic stroke within 6 hours after stroke onset were poor in SWS group. In SWS group, relatively little chances of thrombolysis might be the explanation of these finding.
Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stress, Psychological ; Stroke ; Thrombolytic Therapy

The aim of this study was to represent the trend of early menarche and to assess the association of age at menarche with anthropometric profiles of Korean children and adolescents. A cross sectional survey was conducted with 13,371 girls aged 10 to 18 yr, recruited nationwide from April, 2005 to March, 2006. Height, weight and waist circumference of the subjects were measured; and the subjects self-reported their ages at menarche. We found that the menarcheal girls were taller (P<0.05 for the girls between 10 and 14 yr) and heavier (P<0.05 for the girls between 10 and 18 yr) than non-menarcheal ones. Menarcheal girls also showed higher body mass index (BMI), and greater waist circumference than non-menarcheal ones. Significant differences were represented according to the age at menarche in terms of BMI, waist circumference, % body fat mass, waist hip ratio and neck circumference as well as height and weight (P<0.05). In conclusion, girls who matured early were taller and heavier in early adolescence than those who matured later.
Adolescent ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Height ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; *Body Weights and Measures ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Menarche/*physiology ; Republic of Korea ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate their roles in the pathophysiology of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), we checked interleukin (IL)-6, lipid peroxide, oxygen-radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and antioxidant vitamin in the venous plasma and amniotic fluid of women with PPROM. METHODS: Venous plasma and amniotic fluid was taken from 20 normal pregnant women and 20 PPROM pregnancy women. IL-6 levels was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Lipid peroxide levels were measured by thiobarbituric acid reaction. The ORAC levels and the antioxidant levels were measured by Cao's method and by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The IL-6 levels in the venous plasma and amniotic fluid of PPROM pregnancy women were significantly higher than normal pregancy (P<0.01, P<0.01). The lipid peroxide levels in the venous plasma and amniotic fluid of PPROM pregnancy women were significantly higher than normal pregancy (P<0.01, P<0.01). The ORAC values in the venous plasma and amniotic fluid of PPROM pregnancy women were significantly higher than normal pregancy (P<0.01, P<0.01). The ORAC values/lipid peroxide levels in the venous plasma and amniotic fluid of PPROM pregnancy women were significantly higher than normal pregancy (P<0.01, P<0.01). The ascorbic acid levels in the venous plasma and amniotic fluid of PPROM pregnancy women were significantly higher than normal pregancy (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: This result suggest that the increased inflammatory bioactivity, increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant activity may be involved in the pathophysiology of PPROM. Low levels of ascorbic acid appears to be an important determinant of PPROM.
Amniotic Fluid ; Ascorbic Acid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Membranes ; Plasma ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Rupture ; Thiobarbiturates ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVE: This controlled trial investigated the effect of supplementation with vitamins C and E on the lipid peroxide, antioxidant ability, and antioxidant vitamin levels in full term maternal and umbilical venous plasma. METHODS: Forty pregnant women were randomized in this study. They were nulliparous or multiparous women with history of preeclampsia or preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Twenty women were given vitamin C (1,000 mg/day) and vitamin E (400 IU/day) from 15~20 gestational weeks to delivery. The others were not given, as a control group. Maternal venous blood was obtained before vitamin supplementation and just before delivery. Umbilical venous blood was obtained after delivery. Lipid peroxide level and oxygen-radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) were measured by thiobarbituric acid reaction and Cao's method, respectively. Ascorbic acid, uric acid, beta-carotene, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Results: Supplementation with vitamins C and E was associated with decrease in lipid peroxide levels and increase in ORAC values and alpha-tocopherol levels in maternal venous plasma. And it was also associated with decrease in lipid peroxide levels and increase in ORAC values and alpha-tocopherol levels in umbilical venous plasma. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with vitamins C and E may be beneficial in the prevention of oxidant-antioxidant imbalance origin diseases such as preeclampsia, PPROM. And it also may affect antioxidant ability of the fetus.
alpha-Tocopherol ; Ascorbic Acid ; beta Carotene ; Female ; Fetus ; gamma-Tocopherol ; Humans ; Membranes ; Plasma ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnant Women ; Rupture ; Thiobarbiturates ; Uric Acid ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the lipid peroxide levels and protein carbonyls levels in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). METHODS: The lipid peroxide levels in the amniotic fluid of normal pregnancy (n=20) and pregnant women with PPROM (n=20) were measured by thiobarbituric acid reaction. The protein carbonyl contents in the amniotic fluid of normal pregnancy (n=20) and pregnant women with PPROM (n=20) were determined by the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method. After amniotic fluid of them were mixed and incubated up to 5 hours with 0.2 mL of 1mM moxalactam, cefodizime, amoxacillin, erythromycin, the lipid peroxide levels and protein carbonyl contents in them were measured. RESULTS: 1. The lipid peroxide levels in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with PPROM was significantly higher than that of normal pregnancy (9.74+/-0.48 vs. 7.20+/-0.38 nmol/mg protein, P<0.01). 2. The protein carbonyl levels in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with PPROM was significantly higher than that of normal pregnancy (13.0+/-0.33 vs. 11.27+/-0.17 nmol/mg protein P<0.01). 3. The lipid peroxide levels and protein carbonyls formation by moxalactam in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with PPROM was significantly higher than basal level (12.08+/-0.81 vs. 9.74+/-0.48 nmol/mg protein, 20.08+/-0.66 vs. 13.0+/-0.33 nmol/mg protein, P<0.01). 4. The lipid peroxide levels and protein carbonyls formation by cefodizime in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with PPROM was significantly lower than basal level (5.04+/-0.33 vs. 9.74+/-0.48 nmol/mg protein, 9.76+/-0.35 vs. 13.0+/-0.33 nmol/mg protein, P<0.01). 5. There were no significant differences in the levels of lipid peroxide and protein carbonyls by amoxacillin and erythromycin in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with PPROM between antibiotics-induced and basal levels. CONCLUSION: The lipid peroxidation and the protein carbonyls formation were increased in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with PPROM. Antibiotics-induced lipid peroxide and protein carbonyl levels were changed in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with PPROM. Further studies on our results may be beneficial in the selection of antibiotics for pregnant women with PPROM.
Amniotic Fluid ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cefotaxime ; Erythromycin ; Female ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Membranes ; Moxalactam ; Phenylhydrazines ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Protein Carbonylation ; Rupture ; Thiobarbiturates

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare the amount of the lipid peroxidation and the protein carbonyls formation in maternal venous plasma of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) during antibiotics administration. METHODS: PPROM were selected between 25 and 32 weeks of gestation. Eighteen patients (group 1) were treated with amoxicillin and erythromycin for 7 day period, 18 patients (group 2) were treated with 3rd generation cephalosporin (cefodizime, cefditoren) and erythromycin for the same period. Maternal blood were obtained from the two groups before and after the antibiotics administration, day 3 and day 7. Lipid peroxidation levels and protein carbonyl contents were measured by thiobarbituric acid reaction and 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine method. Other 18 women with normal pregnancy between 25 and 32 weeks of gestation of venous blood were checked same things in vitro. Interleukin (IL) -6 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: 1. The lipid peroxidation levels and protein carbonyls formation in the maternal venous plasma of PPROM was significantly higher than that of normal pregnancy (lipid peroxidation levels; 4.77+/-.36 vs 7.11+/-.41 nmol/mg protein, P<001, protein carbonyls formation; 3.55+/-.22 vs 5.69+/-.30 nmol/mg protein, P<001). 2. There were no significant differences in the lipid peroxidation levels and protein carbonyls formation of the maternal venous plasma with PPROM mixed and incubated by amoxicillin, cefodizime, cefditoren, and erythromycin (in vitro). 3. There were no significant differences in the lipid peroxidation levels and protein carbonyls formation of the venous plasma of group 1 between before and after antibiotics administration, day 3 and day 7. 4. There were no significant differences in the lipid peroxide levels of the venous plasma of group 2 between before and after antibiotics administration, day 3 and day 7. 5. The protein carbonyls formation in the venous plasma of group 2 was significantly decreased at day 3 and day 7 after antibiotics administration than that of before (6.04+/-.44 and 5.53+/-.37 vs. 7.04+/-.51 nmol/mg protein, P<005). 6. The levels of IL-6 in the venous plasma of group 2 was significantly decreased at day 7 after antibiotics administration than that of before (7.50+/-.35 vs. 3.13+/-.37 pg/mL, P<005). CONCLUSION: In the maternal venous plasma of PPROM, the lipid peroxidation levels and protein carbonyls formation were increased. The formation of protein carbonyls and IL-6 in the maternal blood of PPROM was decreased by combined treatment of 3rd generation cephalosporin and erythromycin. The results suggest that reactive oxygen species formation by inflammatory reaction is suppressed by the 3rd generation cephalosporins and erythromycin combined treatment.
Amoxicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cefotaxime ; Cephalosporins ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Erythromycin ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Membranes ; Plasma ; Pregnancy ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Rupture ; Thiobarbiturates

PURPOSE: Pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG), which retains pyloric ring and gastric function, has been accepted as a function-preserving procedure for early gastric cancer for the prevention of postgastrectomy syndrome. This study was compared laparoscopy-assisted pylorus-preerving gastrectomy (LAPPG) with laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with Billroth-I reconstruction (LADGB I). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 2006 and September 2007, 39 patients with early gastric cancer underwent laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy in the Department of Surgery at Korea Cancer Center Hospital. 9 of these patients underwent LAPPG and 18 underwent LADGBI. When LAPPG was underwent, we preserved the pyloric branch, hepatic branch, and celiac branch of the vagus nerve, the infrapyloric artery, and the right gastric artery and performed D1+beta lymphadenectomy to the exclusion of suprapyloric lymph node dissection. The distal stomach was resected while retaining a 2.5~3.0 cm pyloric cuff and maintaining a 3.0~4.0 cm distal margin for the resection. RESULTS: The mean age for patients who underwent LAPPG and LADGBI were 59.9+/-9.4 year-old and 64.1+/-10.0 year-old, respectively. The sex ratio was 1.3:1.0 (male 5, female 4) in the LAPPG group and 2.6:1.0 (male 13, female 5) in the LADGBI group. Mean total number of dissected lymph nodes (28.3+/-11.9 versus 28.1+/-8.9), operation time (269.0+/-34.4 versus 236.3+/-39.6 minutes), estimated blood loss (191.1+/-85.7 versus 218.3+/-150.6 ml), time to first flatus (3.6+/-0.9 versus 3.5+/-0.8 days), time to start of diet (5.1+/-0.9 versus 5.1+/-1.7 days), and postoperative hospital stay (10.1+/-4.0 versus 9.2+/-3.0 days) were not found significant differences (P>0.05). The postoperative complications were 1 patient with gastric stasis and 1 patient with wound seroma in LAPPG group and 1 patient with left lateral segment infarct of liver in the LADGB I group. CONCLUSION: Patients treated by LAPPG showed a comparable quality of surgical operation compared with those treated by LADGBI. LAPPG has an important role in the surgical management of early gastric cancer in terms of quality of postoperative life. Randomized controlled studies should be undertaken to analyze the optimal survival and long-term outcomes of this operative procedure.
Arteries ; Diet ; Female ; Flatulence ; Gastrectomy ; Gastroparesis ; Humans ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Liver ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Postgastrectomy Syndromes ; Postoperative Complications ; Seroma ; Sex Ratio ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Vagus Nerve